15 illegal immigrants rescued in Algeria

Coast guards in the province of Oran (west of Algeria) Thursday saved six Algerian and nine Afghani illegal immigrants heading to Spain.

• The illegal immigrants started their trip from Saidya beach in Morocco on a zodiac.
• At 4 a.m, the staff of a Spanish gas carrier saw them struggling with the rough sea, 35 miles from a beach in Tlemcen province (west of Algeria).
• When questioned, the illegal immigrants said they had stayed in the sea for 3 days after their boat was broken down.
• On the other hand, a total of 11 Algerian illegal immigrants were able to reach Italy’s coasts after a 7-day-trip starting from Boudouaou beach (50 km east of Algeria), according to their relatives who were in touch with them.  
• Earlier on Tuesday, a total of 36 Algerian illegal immigrants including 3 women and a 4-year-old boy were arrested in Annaba province (east of Algeria) and the province of Mostaghanem (west of Algeria). They were heading to the northern side of the Mediterranean using a Rowboat.
• Two days before, some 65 Algerian illegal immigrants were arrested in the same province. They were on 3 rowboats heading for Europe.
• The phenomenon of illegal immigration from Algeria to Europe appears to be on the rise. A recent Algerian navy report indicates that the number of people who died during the crossing and whose bodies have been recovered has risen steadily over the last two years, up from 29 in 2005 to 73 in 2006 and 83 in 2007.