The European Border and Coast Guard Agency has sounded the alarm. Indeed, in its latest report, published on January 13, Frontex indicated that the number of irregular entries into the European Union in 2022 is at its highest since 2016.
According to this border surveillance agency, in 2022, the European Union recorded 300,000 irregular entries. This is an increase of 64% compared to 2016. According to Frontex data, Syrians, Afghans and Tunisians together constitute 47% of its irregular entries.
The western Mediterranean, frequented by the Algerian Harraga, records a migratory decrease
This latest report from Frontex also showed that women represented less than one in ten detections in these irregular franchises. On the other hand, the proportion of minors decreased slightly, in 2022, to reach a rate of 9% of all these detections.
Number of illegal border crossings in 2023, according to Frontex
In addition, Frontex also reported on the share of each route taken by these illegal migrants in 2022. Frequented most often by Algerian Harraga, the western Mediterranean recorded a migratory decrease the previous year.
According to Frontex data, this route saw about a fifth fewer illegal entries compared to the previous year. This balance sheet counts around 14,582 clandestine arrivals. The majority of his harraga are of Syrian, Moroccan, but above all Algerian origin.
In the same vein, the Spanish authorities have previously reported 251 harraga who have left the Algerian coast to reach Spain since Christmas. The most recent departure concerns 20 Algerians who left on December 25 from Mostaganem. It is about 13 men, 2 women and 5 minors. Since then no news has been given by these migrants.
