The arrival of small boats to the coasts of Formentera continues to be a recurrent phenomenon. This weekend, agents of the Guardia Civil and the Local Police have located two boats at different points of the island, totaling 32 immigrants intercepted, all of North African origin. The Government Delegation in the Balearic Islands has reported that the first boat was located on Saturday at 22.45 hours in Can Marroig, with 17 people on board. The second boat was intercepted this Sunday at 11.00 am in the area of Es Caló, with 15 occupants. In both cases, the immigrants were in apparent good health and were treated according to the established protocols.
Steady increase in arrivals
According to official data, so far in 2024, a total of 5,336 immigrants have reached the coasts of the Balearic Islands aboard 321 small boats. This figure contrasts significantly with last year’s statistics, when 128 boats and 2,278 people were counted. The authorities continue to work on the control of this migratory phenomenon, which especially affects Ibiza and Formentera, two of the closest points to the migratory route from Algeria.
Context and response
The Government Delegation in the Balearic Islands has stressed the importance of strengthening the resources allocated to the management of these arrivals, especially in terms of humanitarian care and identification processes. For its part, the Civil Guard remains committed to monitoring these vessels, from their location in territorial waters to their reception on land.
