The Citizen Network of Solidarity with Migrant People has denounced the treatment given to people who were rescued this morning in two boats near the island and has questioned the lack of foresight. "While outdoor activities were canceled throughout the archipelago due to adverse weather, these people had to spend several hours on the commercial dock in the open air," questioned the group, which regrets that "bad weather alerts do not have the same consequences for all people."
From the Network they affirm that the "improvisation" has prevented giving a dignified treatment to these migrants, due to the flooding of the facilities of the Temporary Attention Center for Foreigners (CATE) located in Arrecife. "Neither the weather warnings nor common sense were enough to anticipate that this would happen, after more than 30 hours of almost uninterrupted rainfall," they denounce.
Likewise, they point out that this could have been "anticipated", since it is "a provisional infrastructure that does not meet the minimum conditions to receive people", but, nevertheless, "the affected migrants have had to wait on the dock for a possible transfer to another island, when the entire archipelago was paralyzed."
"It is intolerable to continue with a lack of spaces to care for people"
Faced with this situation, the Citizen Network of Solidarity with Migrant People in Lanzarote has recalled that "the island has a series of facilities that can be used to provide a welcome that does not violate the dignity of migrant people, as would be the case in any emergency situation affecting residents of the island or tourists." Thus, it has referred to the possibility of having used sports centers, socio-cultural centers or hotel places, as it is facing a situation of weather alert.
From the group they have conveyed their "firm intention" to continue demanding that the minimum conditions be met in the CATE, both in terms of facilities and in relation to guaranteeing the rights of the detainees.
"It is intolerable that after almost three decades since the first boat arrived on the coasts of Lanzarote, we continue with improvisation, lack of spaces and, consequently, with the violation of the rights and dignity of humans," they point out.