The Canary Islands have appealed for immediate support from Spain and the European Union after a sudden surge in migrant arrivals pushed the small island of El Hierro to the edge of its capacity. Regional President Fernando Clavijo said Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has agreed to hold an emergency meeting of the Interministerial Commission on Immigration on Tuesday, reported by Euro News.
Between November 1 and November 6, 49 boats carrying 4,587 migrants reached the Canary Islands, according to the regional government. Of those vessels, 35 arrived at El Hierro, where officials describe the pressure on local services as “extraordinary.”
The island council has declared a social emergency after more than 8,000 migrants arrived over the past five weeks. The measure is intended to make it easier to mobilise resources and strengthen care for people who have just reached the island.
El Hierro, home to roughly 11,000 people, has been forced to find temporary shelter, medical support and transport for hundreds of newcomers. Local authorities say the hospital and emergency services are under severe strain, while residents have grown increasingly concerned about the island’s ability to cope.
Clavijo said he had briefed Sánchez on the seriousness of the situation and the rising discontent among islanders. He argued that the Canary Islands have spent months asking for more resources, better planning and a coordinated response from the central government.
“This meeting must serve to agree, between both governments and the relevant ministries, on a joint action plan, with specific, responsible measures and deadlines for implementation,” Clavijo wrote on social media. “We cannot continue to act only when the situation worsens.”
Sánchez has also promised to reinforce healthcare resources through the State Secretariat for Migration, according to the regional president.
Clavijo has additionally requested urgent meetings with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner. He said the islands cannot continue to face, almost alone, a crisis that requires the involvement of both the Spanish government and Europe.
