Global Migration Conference: Southern Spain struggles to cope with African influx

World
Europe

02:44

More African migrants have arrived in Spain so far this year than in any other European country. Most are from West Africa, coming across from Morocco. What's been the impact in southern Spain - and the wider political and economic effects? CGTN's Al Goodman reports from Algeciras, Spain.

On the front lines of Europe's struggle to contain irregular migration, Africa is over there, Morocco and its mountains. Just nine miles across the sea, Spanish Civil Guards on patrol, especially since Spain became ground zero for irregular migration in Europe.

More than 35,000 African migrants have reached Spain this year, more than to Greece and to Italy, the UN Migration Agency reports. The Civil Guard commanding this vessel has fought irregular migration for a decade. And says there's a structural problem.

SGT. ADRIAN ROMO SPANISH CIVIL GUARD "To stop them from coming, their home countries have to be better off. No one wants to leave and cross the sea -- which is so dangerous - for an uncertain future."

AL GOODMAN ALGECIRAS, SPAIN "Despite the efforts of this patrol, and others across the Mediterranean, many irregular migrants are getting through, to Europe. Sparking an intense debate across the Continent."

The debate, especially from far-right parties, is about migrants like this man. He says he left Mali six months ago, traveled by land, then by small boat, then was rescued at sea. Now, in southern Spain.

IBRAHIM SANOGO MALIAN MIGRANT "If you're a man, you can't just wait. You have to help your family. I think migrants should get temporary visas to fend for themselves in Europe for a while, and then return to Africa."

But Spain scrambles to find enough temporary lodging for them. This centralized migrant holding center in Algeciras recently opened, under police guard.

After three days there for initial screening, most migrants leave and get help from NGO's like Cepaim. Many, like Sanogo, want to go north, to France. He has an aunt in Paris. But in Algeciras port, it's not hard to find resentment about the migrants.

IRENE LOPEZ TAPIA PERFUME STORE CLERK "Spain helps the migrants more than the Spaniards. The migrants always get more aid than the Spaniards -- for housing, for food, for everything."

The Civil Guards say drug traffickers are increasingly moving migrants across these waters, charging high prices for unsafe boats. The debate is not just about the migrants who reached Europe. But about those who died at sea, while trying. Al Goodman, CGTN, Algeciras, Spain.