According to a recent preliminary report seen by this correspondent, during the course of last year alone, over 4000 Gambians arrived in Europe through the deadly Mediterranean route known as “back way” in The Gambia.
Majority of those who arrived are either “unemployed, detained in controlled centers … or waiting for their documents to be processed”.
The Point also learnt that the staggering number of these unregulated Gambian migrants confirmed by the UN Migration Agency also revealed a much higher death toll that was previously unreported.
During the beginning of this year, a boat carrying over 300 migrants, including several Gambians capsized killing dozens.
The report also highlighted that nearly 70 percent on those who perished died as a result of drowning and that the figures are either “underreported or unrecorded”.
In August, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez officially announced that Spain will sign a series of partnership agreements on “circular migration” with The Gambia aimed at curbing the surge of migrants to its Canary Island.
Even though Spain’s new initiative is similar to the one adopted by Italy, it is aimed at “facilitating safe, orderly and regular migration that benefits both our countries and our citizens”. According to the report, the core issue of migration is not properly tackled or addressed.
Already the Spanish Interior Ministry has revealed that nearly 23,000 people arrived at its shores during the last six months.
The report citing employment opportunities also revealed that “despite the political rhetoric … the migration topic will continue to persist unless proper and genuine direction is in place … And so far there is only a temporal measure”.
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