Refugees on the Canary Islands | DW Documentary

More than 30,000 migrants have reached the Canary Islands in the Atlantic this year. Many of them come from Senegal.

Tailor Abdoulaye is also keen to make the dangerous crossing, but he’s still having some doubts. Friends are telling him not to go, that it’s too risky. The journey takes many days out on the high seas to avoid western African nations’ coastguard patrols. Many don’t survive; their ramshackle boats sink or they drift off course and die of thirst. In cemeteries on the Canary Islands, there are more and more graves of unknown victims. The smallest island in the archipelago has taken in an especially high number of migrants from Africa. Mayor Juan Miguel Padron says his island is struggling to cope with the growing number of people who leave their homes searching for a better life. A report by Tessa Clara Walther.

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[wildbill]

These are not refugees these are opportunists.. there is a difference.

[migo-migo]

What I hate is that people from poor countries think that once you're in a western world, money grows on trees. Friends and family will keep asking for handouts as if you can afford it. Also, they don't think about how much work it takes to just stay above water while working minimum wage jobs abroad.

[jankauffmann]

Senegal, one of the most peaceful countries in West Africa, it is democratic with elections, have a large growing middle class. That person is not a refugee. Actually no one from Senegal should be considered refugees but as economic migrants.

[SnowWhiteArches]

What war is happening in Senegal? Why you keep saying they’re refugees instead of economic migrants?

[gerryhouska]

Abdoulaye is obviously not starving in Senegal. As a former refugee I can tell him starting with nothing in a country whose language you do not know is hard.

[Chicago_Goofies]

Is safer if they stay in their own countries

[KJ-jspi]

Look at how plump he is. He is not a refugee and the more he talks, the more he reveals he is an economic migrant. Nothing wrong with being an economic migrant, but he needs to have skills and talent that the other country wants rather than abuse the refugee system and exploit generosity.

[faith]

He can't take it anymore, so his mom & huge extended family are left behind to fend for themselves

[MrUncleKiwi]

For a poor family, the guy is pretty well fed....

[chrysalis]

Someone needs to tell these people in West Africa that life in Europe is not the rose tinted life they expect. They should be shown film of how migrants are treated and how the standard of living is not that great.

[kelsogirl]

The whole family looks healthy, well-fed and well-dressed and he must have paid a lot of money for the boat trip. He's NOT fleeing poverty

[arthurthorne]

If you don't close your borders and stop allowing thousands of people into the Canary Islands it will "sink" itself. Over population, crime, gangs etc etc Some times you need to look after yourself...

[HLondon]

Should take them to a holding Center on arrival feed them make sure there good health after that horrific journey then send them straight back to Senegal they are economic migrants not refugees politicians play around to much this is why they come if they no there getting sent back every time they would not take the risk simple

[tituspullo]

Africa needs to provide for it's own people.

[flipperspro]

Most migrants always thinks if they get to Europe they will earn money, but that’s not the reality!!! In Senegal the tailor can ask business partner to grew their business, but nope they want it all, earn, spend and no investment.

[othellojames]

Senegal has a national budget of 7 billions dollars with a population of 18 million people. Corruption is their problem

[MENSA.lady]

Not a refugee among them, they are all economic migrants and should be refused permission to land.

[JeffBilkins]

The tailor doesn't know how awful it is to be a poor immigrant in modern Europe. If he can get a job at all it'll be worse then being with your family and your own boss even if poor.

[atmyyoutube]

Living in Europe is no dream, not for natives and much less for immigrants. Education, health, housing, food are all in constant crisis. Is it worthy to be so far away from your family, friends, culture and language with no prospect of seeing them again?

[leavandenbosch]

I have the impression the tailor is not lacking food, it"s easier to build castles in the air