Latest news with #Konestory
TimesLIVE
5 days ago
- TimesLIVE
East African migrants drive surge of arrivals in Spain's Balearic Islands
More than 30 boats carrying about 600 irregular migrants have arrived in Spain's Balearic Islands since Monday, officials said, as a new migratory route from North Africa gains traction after a crackdown by authorities in other jumping off points. Overall, irregular migration to Spain has fallen this year, but it has risen by 170% in the Balearics in the first six months to about 3,000 people, official data shows. The number of boats, mostly departing from Algeria, more than doubled. A significant number of the arrivals are from East Africa. Konestory, a 20-year-old South Sudanese migrant, told Reuters on Tuesday in the Mallorcan capital of Palma that he had fled from growing instability in the region. He paid $2,000 (R35,121) to board a boat from Algeria, which took 46 hours to reach the islands. They faced 'a lot of waves', ran out of food and water, and got lost, he said. 'Now I'm happy. I'm looking at ways to talk to my mom to give her the information that I reached here.'
Straits Times
6 days ago
- Straits Times
East African migrants drive surge of arrivals in Spain's Balearic islands
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox A couple of sub-saharan migrants embrace in a public park after arriving from Algeria earlier in the day, as more than 30 boats carrying about 600 irregular migrants have reached the Balearic Islands since Monday, according to officials, in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, August 12, 2025. REUTERS/Francisco Ubilla PALMA/BARCELONA, Spain - More than 30 boats carrying about 600 irregular migrants have arrived in Spain's Balearic islands since Monday, officials said, as a new migratory route from North Africa gains traction after a crackdown by authorities in other jumping off points. Overall, irregular migration to Spain has fallen this year, but it has risen by 170% in the Balearics in the first six months to around 3,000 people, official data shows. The number of boats, mostly departing from Algeria, more than doubled. A significant number of the arrivals are from East Africa. Konestory, a 20-year-old South Sudanese migrant, told Reuters on Tuesday in the Mallorcan capital of Palma that he had fled from growing instability in the region. He paid $2,000 to board a boat from Algeria, which took 46 hours to reach the islands. They faced "a lot of waves", ran out of food and water, and got lost, he said. "Now I'm happy. I'm looking at ways to talk to my mom to give her the information that I reached here," he said. Authorities in the Balearic islands off eastern Spain - Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera - say they feel abandoned. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 2 dead after fire in Jalan Bukit Merah flat, about 60 evacuated Singapore How the SAF's drone push for recruits reflects new battlefield realities Singapore HSA seeks Kpod investigators to arrest abusers, conduct anti-trafficking ops Opinion The 30s are heavy: Understanding suicide among Singapore's young adults Singapore Lawyer who sent misleading letters to 22 doctors fails in bid to quash $18,000 penalty Singapore Jail, caning for recalcitrant drug offender who assaulted 2 cops with stun device Singapore 4 taken to hospital after accident near Sports Hub, including 2 rescued with hydraulic tools Singapore SG60: Many hands behind Singapore's success story They fear they could become a new migrant gateway, like the Canary Islands, which received 47,000 from West Africa at the peak of that route's popularity in 2024. Arrivals in the Canaries fell by 46% in January-July of this year, largely thanks to tightened controls by Mauritania. "Where is the government of (Pedro) Sanchez?" Balearic regional leader Marga Prohens posted on X on Wednesday, referring to Spain's prime minister. She called for increased law enforcement resources and cooperation with Algeria. The central government said last month it would improve the Balearics' capacity to absorb arrivals. Local media in Mallorca have reported cases of newly arrived migrants being left by authorities for several hours in parks due to an absence of shelters before they board ferries to the mainland. REUTERS
The Star
6 days ago
- The Star
East African migrants drive surge of arrivals in Spain's Balearic islands
A couple of sub-saharan migrants embrace in a public park after arriving from Algeria earlier in the day, as more than 30 boats carrying about 600 irregular migrants have reached the Balearic Islands since Monday, according to officials, in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, August 12, 2025. REUTERS/Francisco Ubilla PALMA/BARCELONA, Spain (Reuters) -More than 30 boats carrying about 600 irregular migrants have arrived in Spain's Balearic islands since Monday, officials said, as a new migratory route from North Africa gains traction after a crackdown by authorities in other jumping off points. Overall, irregular migration to Spain has fallen this year, but it has risen by 170% in the Balearics in the first six months to around 3,000 people, official data shows. The number of boats, mostly departing from Algeria, more than doubled. A significant number of the arrivals are from East Africa. Konestory, a 20-year-old South Sudanese migrant, told Reuters on Tuesday in the Mallorcan capital of Palma that he had fled from growing instability in the region. He paid $2,000 to board a boat from Algeria, which took 46 hours to reach the islands. They faced "a lot of waves", ran out of food and water, and got lost, he said. "Now I'm happy. I'm looking at ways to talk to my mom to give her the information that I reached here," he said. Authorities in the Balearic islands off eastern Spain - Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera - say they feel abandoned. They fear they could become a new migrant gateway, like the Canary Islands, which received 47,000 from West Africa at the peak of that route's popularity in 2024. Arrivals in the Canaries fell by 46% in January-July of this year, largely thanks to tightened controls by Mauritania. "Where is the government of (Pedro) Sanchez?" Balearic regional leader Marga Prohens posted on X on Wednesday, referring to Spain's prime minister. She called for increased law enforcement resources and cooperation with Algeria. The central government said last month it would improve the Balearics' capacity to absorb arrivals. Local media in Mallorca have reported cases of newly arrived migrants being left by authorities for several hours in parks due to an absence of shelters before they board ferries to the mainland. (Reporting by Francisco Ubilla and Joan Faus, editing by Aislinn Laing and Giles Elgood)
Reuters
6 days ago
- Politics
- Reuters
East African migrants drive surge of arrivals in Spain's Balearic islands
PALMA/BARCELONA, Spain, Aug 13 (Reuters) - More than 30 boats carrying about 600 irregular migrants have arrived in Spain's Balearic islands since Monday, officials said, as a new migratory route from North Africa gains traction after a crackdown by authorities in other jumping off points. Overall, irregular migration to Spain has fallen this year, but it has risen by 170% in the Balearics in the first six months to around 3,000 people, official data shows. The number of boats, mostly departing from Algeria, more than doubled. A significant number of the arrivals are from East Africa. Konestory, a 20-year-old South Sudanese migrant, told Reuters on Tuesday in the Mallorcan capital of Palma that he had fled from growing instability in the region. He paid $2,000 to board a boat from Algeria, which took 46 hours to reach the islands. They faced "a lot of waves", ran out of food and water, and got lost, he said. "Now I'm happy. I'm looking at ways to talk to my mom to give her the information that I reached here," he said. Authorities in the Balearic islands off eastern Spain - Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera - say they feel abandoned. They fear they could become a new migrant gateway, like the Canary Islands, which received 47,000 from West Africa at the peak of that route's popularity in 2024. Arrivals in the Canaries fell by 46% in January-July of this year, largely thanks to tightened controls by Mauritania. "Where is the government of (Pedro) Sanchez?" Balearic regional leader Marga Prohens posted on X on Wednesday, referring to Spain's prime minister. She called for increased law enforcement resources and cooperation with Algeria. The central government said last month it would improve the Balearics' capacity to absorb arrivals. Local media in Mallorca have reported cases of newly arrived migrants being left by authorities for several hours in parks due to an absence of shelters before they board ferries to the mainland.
