Patera arriving from: Algeria
Reported time at sea: 3-4 days
Carrying: 17 young men dressed in casual clothes, in good health
On the night of the 3rd/4th August, a few of our group experienced the arrival of illegal immigrants to the coast of Spain in two Pateras- the boats which give our project its name. The boats had both left the north of Algeria at the same time and arrived to Almeria in the early hours of Wednesday morning, a few hours apart.
We were awoken at 6am by a call from the on-call Red Cross team at Almeria port, saying that a boat carrying 17 illegal passengers had been detected, and that volunteers were needed for their arrival to the port. A similar call earlier the same night had detailed 12 Algerian passengers aboard the first boat, including two minors.
When the Spanish Coastguard detects a Patera at sea, the Guardia Civil (police) and Red Cross are immediately informed. The Guardia Civil sends a boat to detain the immigrants and bring them to shore, and the Red Cross also sends a boat out to assess the health and humanitarian needs of the passengers, including any emergencies. Meanwhile, the team leader on call at the Red Cross centre assembles a team of volunteers. This must be done quickly so that the Red Cross are present and ready at the landing station when the immigrants arrive.
The Guardia Civil boat arrived at around 6:45 with the 17 Algerian and Tunisian men aboard, and towing the Patera behind. We found the size of the Patera shocking, a small inflatable boat with a motor, that you could imagine hiring for a day out at the beach or a lake for a family of five or six. Somehow these men had made it across the Mediterranean Sea, risking their lives for the tiny chance of reaching the shore undetected and being able to escape into Spain in search of a better life. Unlike with Morocco, the Spanish government has a repatriation agreement with Algeria, which means that the immigrants can be sent directly back after their medical and humanitarian needs have been met. Brief chats with the men showed their relief and happiness at finally having reached Spain and the end of their gruelling journey, although they knew that they had only one or two brief days here before being deported.
There were no medical emergencies, but for the most part the immigrants were cold, wet and very dehydrated. The Red Cross medical officer assessed each patient and took details of name, age and nationality, giving a green wristband to those deemed "healthy", with the option of a red band for those needing the attention of a doctor. Meanwhile, we distributed dry clothes and shoes, water and hot drinks, and food to the immigrants. They seemed very grateful for everything and we were proud of the work we did as Red Cross volunteers.
The whole experience really put into context the process set in motion when a Patera arrives. Although we had it explained to us several times in the training, until I saw and felt the futility of the immigrants' journeys, I could not empathise fully with their situation. I can now relate the arrival to the immigrant settlements we visit inland. These people risk their lives for the chance of a better life, but when they arrive they are greeted by even further poverty, unemployment and exclusion from society.
Anya Stephenson, Aguadulce, Spain
No comments:
Post a Comment