Crisis for 5,500 Migrant Children in the Canary Islands

Health workers in the Canary Islands are raising alarms over the increasing number of unaccompanied minors, now exceeding 5,500, arriving from Africa, many fleeing poverty and conflict, the Associated Press revealed in an article published yesterday.

Emergency doctors have highlighted the trauma faced by these children, including some who have witnessed parents die at sea.

Despite the urgent need for assistance, Spain’s parliament recently rejected a proposal to redistribute some of these minors, far exceeding the islands’ capacity of 2,000.

This has led to overcrowded centers and a lack of essential services like education and healthcare, with regional social welfare officials describing the situation as a “humanitarian catastrophe.”

As migrant boats continue to arrive, calls for urgent reforms grow louder, with professionals expressing frustration over the political rhetoric surrounding these vulnerable children.