More kids migrate to Europe
2007-11-28 14:51
Dakar - More and more children from sub-Saharan Africa are risking life and limb to try and find a better life in western Europe, says an official from the International Organisation for Migration.
Children illegally immigrating with adults "is a new trend for sub-Saharan Africa", after those coming from north Africa, IOM regional representative Abye Makonnen told said, a few days after 1 000 Senegalese children were found in Tenerife, one of Spain's Canary Islands, which was popular with tourists.
Spanish authorities had suggested an agreement to the Senegalese justice ministry on how to repatriate the 10-to-13-year-old children.
Immigrating illegally with their children "is a way for the immigrants to find a solution in spite of the danger", which was augmented if the parents were repatriated, as minors were often not sent back by authorities.
"It's a very delicate problem. The minors cannot be expelled and they do not have the right to work," he said, adding that if children were repatriated, it was only when the authorities made an agreement with the minor's parents.
Illegal arrivals to the Canary Islands reached a peak of 31 000 in 2006. The numbers had decreased to 60% so far this year, according to Spanish authorities.