The Spanish government on Thursday approved a plan to relocate thousands of unaccompanied migrant minors across the country, to relieve crowded reception centres in the Canary Islands.
The reform will see the relocation of thousands of underage migrants who have been staying in cramped reception centres, mainly on the Canary Islands.
These seven islands in the Atlantic Ocean receive tens of thousands of people who have made the perilous journey from west Africa by sea to reach the European Union each year.
Authorities on the islands have repeatedly warned of unsustainable pressure on their resources, and have complained about a lack of solidarity from the rest of the country.
While Spain’s central government handles the reception of adult migrants, unaccompanied minors come under the remit of the regions.
The Canary Islands are currently hosting more than 5,000 unaccompanied minors but only have capacity for 900, according to the country’s minister of territorial policy, Angel Victor Torres.
He says the number of children and teenagers arriving in Spain unaccompanied has more than doubled over the last three years.
‘Let us invest in their future’
For Torres, the reform allowing the relocation of young migrants is not only a humanitarian issue, but also represents an opportunity for Spain.
“These children will be part of our economic structure, of our labour, social and cultural potential in the future. Let us invest in their future, because their future will be everyone’s future,” he told the country’s lower house on Thursday.
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