The citizen network of solidarity with migrants in Lanzarote has denounced that there are immigrants who "have been dragged to the streets", after the closure of the Los Pocillos hotel complex as a humanitarian emergency resource. "We demand a dignified reception," claims this group, which calls on institutions and citizens.
In addition, in a statement, this citizen network refers to the young man who was found dead on February 12 in the Charco de San Ginés. "Alí Elhardni died without anyone knowing how. He was just over 20 years old and had arrived in Lanzarote by boat in November last year. He was welcomed by the Red Cross and decided to leave the program. He was very afraid of being returned to his country if he stayed in the shelter, so he decided to hide in the streets of Arrecife," they reveal. "We must help these people if we do not want to find adrift destinies again in the Charco de San Ginés," they add.
This citizen network of solidarity with migrants explains that, at 10:00 a.m. on February 23, the users of the Los Pocillos hotel complex "were informed by the Red Cross staff that this humanitarian emergency resource was going to close imminently."
Then, they point out that "they were offered two alternatives: to be transferred to the CATE of El Matorral, former CIE in Fuerteventura, or to leave the reception program without another housing alternative, being able to be homeless."
"They did not know what decision to make in such a short time and in such a complex administrative situation. Between the fear and uncertainty that it is a maneuver to deport them and the ignorance about the conditions of the CATE of El Matorral, many decided to stay in Lanzarote, even if that meant being homeless. That same day, several boys already spent the night outdoors and the next day began for them the struggle to find food, shelter, toilet and security. Some stayed in Puerto del Carmen and others in Arrecife," explain from the citizen network of solidarity with migrants in Lanzarote, from where they say they offer support "to these people in transit for several months"
According to this citizen network, "the provisional shelter of the sports center, used as a resource for homeless people, no longer welcomes anyone and all humanitarian associations are overwhelmed." Thus, it states that migrants "in a situation of great vulnerability", "have been dragged into a situation of homelessness, without the protection of the administrations, and join those who have been enduring undignified and dangerous living conditions for months."
"What most of these people want, like many of those who arrive by sea to the Canary Islands, is to reach the European continent, where they have relatives waiting for them and willing to take care of them. Others, after the traumatic journey and months of wandering here, would simply like to return home but they cannot even," he adds.
Call to institutions and citizens
This citizen network considers that this situation "is the responsibility of everyone" and calls on "all the public institutions involved and the citizens of Lanzarote."
To the Cabildo de Lanzarote, it offers "to manage from the organized citizenship a provisional place of reception", if they are given a space. "We do not intend it to be a long-term solution, but a quick response to the current emergency. We are at your disposal to meet and develop actions to respond to the most immediate needs of these people: shelter, food and toilet," they say from this citizen network.
To the Secretary of State for Migration and its representation in the Government Delegation, they request "to facilitate the migratory transit and vital project of these people, because the right to migrate is a human right." "Most of these young people, as soon as they land in the Peninsula, will no longer need humanitarian assistance as they will be cared for by relatives. It makes no sense to keep them here in the Canary Islands, welcomed in undignified conditions or on the street, when in another part of the national territory they would have the necessary support not to depend on public assistance," they point out.
They ask the Red Cross "to make its protocols more flexible and that if there has been a change of opinion on the part of some boys, the possibility of going to the CATE of El Matorral on the island of Fuerteventura is reopened." "The Red Cross is currently the only organization with humanitarian accommodation resources for migrants arriving by sea to Lanzarote. The Secretary of State hires this organization to manage these resources. It would be appropriate for both parties to contribute to limiting street situations that may occur on the Island instead of favoring them," they consider.
They ask the Consulate of Morocco in Las Palmas to "organize as soon as possible an itinerancy in Lanzarote in order to process the necessary documents so that these people can circulate." "We ask that the procedures be expedited and that voluntary returns be allowed," they demand.
They ask the city councils of Arrecife and Tías "that these people exist in our municipalities. "They are our new neighbors. Until this State migratory policy of making the Canary Islands prison islands is reversed, they will be part of our community and should be considered as such by local administrations. Even if they are in an irregular administrative situation, they have rights (registration, health care, etc.) and we intend that these rights be fulfilled. We also extend our hand to you to meet and develop actions to respond in a coordinated manner to this emergency situation," they say.
Finally, they address "the more than a thousand co-signatories of the Lanzarote citizen manifesto for the dignified treatment of migrants, groups and organizations and the entire citizenship of the island to "help in everything that is possible." "These boys need a lot of support, they expect very hard weeks. We count on you to make them feel that they are not alone," they say, providing the email manifiestodelanzarote@gmail.com for those who want to join their actions.