4,000 illegal immigrants living in squalor across province

It’s estimated that up to 4,000 people are living in conditions of absolute poverty across Almería province. Mainly illegal immigrants, they form an unknown number of shanty towns or chabolas (shacks) concentrated mainly in the Níjar – Campohermoso or El Ejido areas. Almería Acoge, together with Médicos del Mundo, are two charities that are heavily involved in helping residents of these shanty towns gain access to the very basic services that we take for granted, Continue reading 4,000 illegal immigrants living in squalor across province

39 drown off Almeria coast

39 people are believed to have drowned this morning after their boat went down. The Spanish coastguard have been looking for a patera (immigrant boat) since Wednesday night after being warned that one with 54 passengers had set sail from Morroco to reach Spain. At midday today, 15 survivors from the wreck were discovered clinging to the remains of their inflatable boat 40 nautical miles off the coast. 13 men and 2 women. It is Continue reading 39 drown off Almeria coast

Just what are immigrants worth in Almería?

An interesting study by the UAL (Almeria University) has revealed the hidden benefits of the immigrant to the economy in Almería. A three year investigation, which started off just trying to work out how to calculate the benefits and costs, has revealed that 52,000 immigrant workers in the province generated 140 million euros worth of tax in 2006, or around 2,700€ a year per immigrant. For Andalucia as a whole, the immigrant economy brings in Continue reading Just what are immigrants worth in Almería?

Only 767 immigrants took advantadge of the “Return Home Rich” scheme

The Government in Madrid recently came up with a wonderful idea – if you were a legal immigrant, working in Spain, with the right to unemployment benefit (paro) and from a country we like, if you lost your job you could ask for a cheque of all of your unemployment unpaid and social security payments and get a free flight home, in return for handing in your residencia. And if you frittered all your money Continue reading Only 767 immigrants took advantadge of the “Return Home Rich” scheme

All quiet in La Mojonera… for now?

The riots in La Mojonera, a small village just 10km above Roquetas del Mar (where exactly three months ago Spain was gripped by running street riots between groups of African immigrants and Gitanos) seem to have fizzled out as groups of riot police still patrol the streets. It ignited two nights ago when a young man (24) from Mali called Sega S. caught three Morrocon men trying to pickpocket his wallet. He and some friends Continue reading All quiet in La Mojonera… for now?

Peace returns to the forest

Well, the strike appears to be over, although a few isolated unions still refuse to return to work the unusually forceful approach taken by the Spanish government seems to have broken the back of the strikers. Petrol & diesel has reappeared in almost all the petrol stations, shops are restocking and the press has returned to it’s usual round of stories like “youngster destroys a bar in Zaragoza with a chain saw – reason unknown”. Continue reading Peace returns to the forest