Illegal immigration: Spanish authorities intercept 50 Algerian illegal immigrants on board of four boats

Spanish Coast Guards said they intercepted four boats carrying 50 Algerian illegal immigrants, who took advantage of the New Year celebration and launch an adventure to reach the other side of the Mediterranean.

AFP quoted Spanish media that a large number of children are among those illegal immigrants; they suffered from hunger and cold as a result of bad weather conditions during the three day journey, noting that are they are in good health conditions, while the Commission of Red Crescent provided basic services to resist effects of hunger and cold.

The Spanish newspaper Al Pais reported that the Spanish Coast Guards intercepted on Saturday at around 8:00 am a small boat in the coasts of Alicante carrying 12 illegal immigrants, pointing out that the majority of them aged between 20 and 30 years old, and that only three of them are minors and enjoy good health conditions. Same newspaper added that this is the fifth case of the kind only in Alicante coasts during 2010.

Same source explained that the four boats docked off Moricia coasts, south east Spain, and illegal immigrants were taken to the Spanish authorities in order to take the measures and procedures of deportation and repatriation to Algeria.

Figures by the Spanish government indicate that over 96.000 illegal immigrants arrived to the Spanish coasts since 1994, while 2006 noticed the largest number of illegal immigrants with 32.000.

Same sources added that 2007 noticed some 12.000 illegal immigrants who tried to enter the country illegally, while the number decreased by 25% during 2008 with 8.000 illegal immigrants , and 45% in 2009 with 1.000 illegal migrants.