‘City of Refuge’ awaits Syrians, but 2,000 Valencia volunteers wondering when EU will send refugees
• More than 2,000 Valencians volunteered to help refugees yet to arrive • A Valencia city councillor in charge of Development Aid…
Refugees & Migration
Flow of migrants and asylum seekers rescued at sea while trying to reach Spain increased 25% in 2015
• Nearly 7,000 attempted sea journey, rescued by Spanish, Moroccan crews • Nearly 7,000 undocumented migrants and asylum seekers braving a dangerous…
#VIDEO: Jesuit Migration Services (SJM) launches ‘Hospitalidad’ pro-refugees campaign [in Spanish]
• Spain’s Jesuits launch campaign to help counter anti-refugee prejudice • Website www.Hospitalidad.es promotes solidarity with asylum seekers ► ► CLICK ABOVE…
Spain has accepted just 18 of 16,000 refugees it pledged to take in EU accord, says pro-refugees NGO
• Group says Spain’s inaction ‘shameful’ in face of now-critical situation • The non-governmental refugees advocacy organisation Refugiados Extremadura has called on…
Bishop laments Spain’s refugee response as church begins World Day of Migrants & Refugees campaign
• Countries with far less per capita income doing more to help refugees • The Catholic prelate in charge of the Commission…
Number of Syrians seeking refuge in Europe via Spain’s Melilla centre expected to increase in 2016
• Spain’s N. African enclave entry point for desperate Syrian asylum seekers • The number of Syrian refugees willing to brave Moroccan…
Insurance group foundation donates 23,000 euros
to help refugees & alleviate child poverty in Spain
• Funds raised by Mutua Madrileña foundation’s annual Christmas concerts • Donations to UN refugees comission and Spanish anti-poverty organization The philanthropic…
UN refugees commissioner says Melilla centre
falls short of meeting basic human rights standards
• UN representative says Spain’s Melilla CETI fails to meet EU and UN guidelines • Spain’s N. African centre meant to hold…
Syrian refugees, undocumented migrants reach Spain in record numbers during 2015, report says
• More than 15,000 undocumented migrants & refugees double 2014 arrivals • 7,000 Syrians applied for asylum in Spanish enclave of Melilla…
Oxfam Intermón calls on Spain’s next government to make poverty alleviation, overseas aid top priorities
• NGO says overseas aid alleviates root causes of refugees, economic migration • Fight against poverty, inequality at home should be government’s…
Number of undocumented boat people making risky sea voyage to Canaries nearly triples during 2015
• Nearly 700 migrants have crossed Atlantic from Morocco so far this year • Traffickers charge 800-900 euros per person to make…
Nativity scene in Madrid parish seeks to shine light Syrian refugee families’ plight at Christmastime
• San Antón parish nativity scene depicts drowned Syrian refugee child • Refugee tent, route map & refugee children’s drawings adorn manger…
Podemos candidate set to be elected first-ever African-born immigrant to serve in Spain’s Congress
• Rita Bosaho to become Spain’s first-ever Black Congresswoman • Immigrants comprise 15% of population, just 1% of congressional seats Regardless of…
Activists rally in Extremadura to demand Spain immediately increase intake of Syrian refugees
• Only 12 of 16,231 Syrian refugees have so far arrived to Spain • Groups say stranded refugees face harsh winters in…
Amnesty International says Spain has backtracked on freedoms of expression and assembly for citizens
• AI Spain director says political parties should do more to protect rights • Esteban Beltran says police power expanded, protection of…
Spain’s Ombudswoman warns of human trafficking rings targeting refugee women fleeing to Europe
• ‘Defensora del Pueblo’ said refugee women risk victimization twice over • Soledad Becerril called for ‘more generosity’ from Spain in granting…
Sub-Saharan asylum seekers continue dangerous boat journeys to reach Spain via Canaries, Melilla
• Spanish hospital ship rescues 51 immigrants at sea near Gran Canaria • Migrants stranded on island off Melilla returned to Moroccan…
Socialists pledge municipal voting rights to all foreign citizens legally resident for five years
• Move would enable some 1.5 million legally resident immigrants to vote • Moroccans, Chinese, Ukrainians & other disenfranchised groups to benefit…
Podemos says it would extend municipal voting rights for EU citizens to Spain’s regional elections
• Left party wants legally resident foreigners to vote in regional balloting • Move would affect citizens of EU, 12 other nations…
Spanish Jesuit agency says ‘Don’t let Paris terrorist attacks undermine aid to Syrian refugees’
• Jesuit immigrant-rights centre calls on Spain to keep Syrian refugee pledge • Syrian refugees in central Europe need help in face…
Catalan police raid Nigerian human-trafficking ring in Barcelona
• Police capture 30 members of Nigerian sex-trafficking ring in Barcelona • Nigerian women seeking work in Spain forced into prostitution by…
First dozen refugees arrive to Spain, while rights groups criticize sluggish relocation efforts
• First group of a dozen Syrian refugees arrive from Rome to Madrid • Slow processing of more than 14,000 refugees by…
Madrid regional government readies materials and resources to provide assistance to refugees
• Regional authorities in Madrid say they are ready to coordinate refugee aid • Local governments, Spanish NGOs to provide assistance to…
Poll finds most Spaniards would welcome refugees from Syria
• Survey shows 52% of Spaniards say country can accept more refugees • Economic capacity to absorb more remains concern for 64%…
Congress to decide transfer to mainland of 1,500 refugees
• Left parties press for ‘urgent & immediate’ access for refugees • Gov’t critics say right to asylum being denied those held…