A staggering 46,843 people reached the Canary Islands illegally in 2024, continuing a trend of mounting numbers of migrants making the treacherous journey across the Atlantic. This is the second consecutive year of record arrivals, as reported by Spain's Interior Ministry. The total for Spain also hit 63,970 irregular migrants, a significant increase from 56,852 in 2023 (The Guardian).

Increasingly, the Canary Islands have become a focal point in the EU's migration crisis as more individuals attempt to navigate the perilous waters from West Africa, seeking refuge from conflict and hardship in their home countries such as Mali, Senegal, and Morocco. The EU border agency Frontex reported that while irregular crossings into Europe fell overall by 40%, the Atlantic route saw a 19% rise in attempts compared to previous years (Al Jazeera).

Tragically, this surge in arrivals coincided with a notable increase in fatalities. An NGO report detailed that at least 10,457 migrants perished or went missing during attempted crossings in 2024, a rise of 50% from the previous year, marking the highest death toll recorded since 2007. Many of these devastating outcomes are attributed to the use of unsafe vessels and a substantial lack of rescue resources amid the perilous crossing (The Guardian).

With conditions in the Sahel region worsening due to ongoing conflicts, unemployment, and climate change pressures, many are compelled to embark on this life-threatening journey, raising critical questions about humanitarian responses and the responsibility of European governments to protect lives while managing migration.