SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 28 September (EUROPA PRESS) –
The President and Vice President of the Canary Islands Government, Fernando Clavijo and Manuel Domínguez, have made an urgent appeal to the Spanish Government and the European Union following the shipwreck of a canoe off the coast of El Hierro, which has resulted in the deaths of nine individuals and left fifty others missing. “We are facing a humanitarian crisis of significant magnitude. We require assistance; the people of the Canaries require assistance; those who seek a better life depend on that aid and we can no longer shoulder this pressure.”
This was articulated during a press briefing after several members of the Canary Islands government were called to respond promptly to the humanitarian disaster that unfolded this morning near El Hierro’s shoreline, when a canoe overturned. They aimed to gather all relevant information regarding the incident and bolster all services under the jurisdiction of the autonomous community, noting, “unfortunately, as we anticipated and warned, things are going to deteriorate.”
Fernando Clavijo and Manuel Domínguez expressed their sorrow over this “tragic event”, adding that indications suggest it is “unlikely that we will be able to recover more bodies in the forthcoming hours, although efforts are ongoing on-site; however, it may take 2-3 days for the bodies to surface due to the currents, likely further to the east of the archipelago.”
Furthermore, they wished to extend their support to all the Maritime Rescue personnel, State security forces, local police, Regional Police, volunteers, the Red Cross, and the community on El Hierro, who “have once again devoted themselves to this situation, showcasing to the people of the Canaries and the public safety and emergency services the professionalism and resilience with which they have been managing, for a considerable time now, a workload and emotional strain. This is the unfortunate reality we are compelled to endure.”
They also expressed gratitude to the leader of the Popular Party, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, who “reached out via WhatsApp”; to Minister Torres, who “has also offered assistance” to the Canary Islands Government, and to the Secretary of Justice, who has also communicated with Minister of the Presidency, Nieves Lady Barreto, regarding the necessary autopsies for the recovered bodies, citing “the logistical challenges in El Hierro.”
Fernando Clavijo elaborated that up until 15 September, the Canary Islands have recorded the arrival of 26,758 migrants, surpassing the figures from the same period last year, which was already a record. He noted that the Atlantic Route remains the most perilous in the world, with a migrant dying every 45 minutes while attempting to reach our shores, a situation that “should catalyse our immediate and urgent pursuit of an agreement to manage this phenomenon effectively.”
“We cannot simply accept this as yet another tragic occurrence; we need public administrations to actively seek spaces for dialogue and reach agreements swiftly and carefully, as this situation is destined to worsen in the coming months. It is our obligation to provide an immediate response that must be much more efficient, appropriate, and civilised because the people of the Canaries deserve it, as do those fleeing hunger and death in search of refuge along our coasts,” asserted the Canary Islands President.
Clavijo took the opportunity to commend the Vice President for “not only their collaboration and commitment to being present but also for the ease with which we connect at any time to initiate work and confront this phenomenon with integrity and composure.” He strongly emphasised that today “is a profoundly sorrowful day for everyone; it is a bleak day for the Canary Islands and for those involved in politics, as it serves as further evidence of our failure, a situation we can no longer afford.”
A “BITTER” DAY.
On his part, Manuel Domínguez remarked that today is a “bitter day, a day on which those of us who have willingly entered politics to assist the populace recognise that what is being executed is far from the intended aim.” He further noted that this latest tragedy reflects “a humanitarian crisis of monumental proportions”, prompting him to urge all administrations for support: “We need assistance; the people of the Canaries require help; those searching for a better life depend on this aid, and we can no longer sustain this pressure.”
The Vice President of the Canary Islands asserted that efforts must focus “on transit countries or countries of origin to prevent individuals from embarking on perilous journeys in search of a better life.” He underscored the hope that “this moment will awaken the conscience of many, prompting political action to ensure that pertinent agreements are reached and, above all, to allow us to implement effective and efficient policies as that is ultimately what we seek.”
Domínguez conceded that the Canary Islands Government has reached a point where they no longer know “what more can be done to ensure those decision-makers in immigration policy grasp the urgency and necessity of this assistance.” “We are in dire need of support for the Canary Islands in circumstances such as this.” He hopes that “if the outcry from Lampedusa resonated beyond the borders and triggered necessary assistance from the European Union, the cries from the Canary Islands will also be heard today (…) and lead to an understanding of the challenges we face at this moment.”
When questioned about the scheduling of meetings among the Spanish Government, the Canary Islands Executive, and the PP aimed at facilitating reforms to the Immigration Law, Fernando Clavijo acknowledged that “no date has yet been set for the agreement.” He clarified that the Canary Islands Government remains committed to working towards an expeditious resolution and expressed hope that next week could bring some momentum and progress. “Time is against us. For every 45 minutes we delay in seeking a meeting, for every 45 minutes we fail to act decisively to prevent these tragedies, lives are lost; lives that hold aspirations and dreams for a better future are extinguished in the sea.”