Ibiza and Formentera are experiencing an unprecedented migration crisis this year, which has worsened over the summer due to a steady stream of arrivals. In the last seven days alone, a total of 416 illegal immigrants arrived on the coasts of Ibiza and Formentera in at least 26 boats, as officially recorded by the Government Delegation in the Islands. The two days with the most arrivals were Tuesday 12 August and the following day, with 103 and 138 immigrants respectively. By contrast, only one boat was reported on Thursday, whereas arrivals have intensified this weekend, with at least seven boats carrying more than a hundred people since last Friday.
According to data provided by the Government Delegation on arrivals to the islands, the analysis for the year shows that, as of Sunday 17 August, more than 1,600 people (1,632 to be precise) had arrived on the coasts of Ibiza and Formentera in illegal boats. August has undoubtedly seen the most arrivals, with 424 immigrants arriving so far (as of 17 August). June also saw a significant peak, with 384 immigrants arriving by boat. By contrast, March saw the fewest arrivals so far, with just 60 immigrants. A total of at least 98 boats have arrived in August, according to the Government Delegation in the Islands.
Formentera can't take it anymore
Most of the arrivals on all the islands are being recorded in Formentera. This week, President Óscar Portas lashed out at the central government's inaction in managing this unprecedented migration crisis in the islands and, specifically, in the history of Formentera. In this regard, he reiterated his concern about the lack of resources to deal with the dozens of irregular migrants who have been intercepted and formally conveyed this to Raquel Guasch, the island director of the General State Administration in the Pitiusas. ‘We demand immediate action by the competent administration, which is the State, and which has the powerful machinery to deal with this situation,’ insisted Portas, who reiterated that they expect answers to this reality. Currently, the Formentera Council is caring for 150 unaccompanied migrant minors, a figure that is expected to increase with the latest arrivals in August. The president also suggested that government officials visit Formentera to see what is happening and, on this point, he referred to the Secretary of State for Migration, Pilar Cancela, who recently travelled to Ibiza without visiting Formentera, ‘and when you see things with your own eyes, it is easier to intervene in the appropriate manner.’
It should be noted at this point that first aid centres for migrants have been set up in the ports of Ibiza and Formentera. The centre on the larger of the two islands is already operational. In contrast, the centre in Formentera is not yet operational, despite the island experiencing significant migratory pressure.
Both the island's director and the government delegate for the Balearic Islands, Alfonso Rodríguez, defended the central government's handling of the crisis, stating that resources are being allocated to deal with it. Meanwhile, associations and unions representing civil guards and national police officers have recalled that they have been warning for years about the creation and consolidation of the Algeria–Balearic Islands migration route. This is evident from the data, despite the state's refusal to recognise this route. For this reason, the PP called for the Government Delegate's resignation this week for his handling of the migration crisis, and once again demanded that the route be recognised.