In just 24 hours the Spanish coastguard has rescued around 600 migrants from 15 vessels. Most of the rescued migrants are from the Sub-Sahara region of Africa and North Africa. The International Organisation for Migration claims that more than 8,300 illegal migrants managed to get to Spain between January and July this year. But almost 100,000 illegal migrants are said to have travelled from Libya to Italy so far this year. However thousands of African migrants drown every year whilst travelling in smugglers' boats on their way to Europe.

Source: The North Africa Journal August 17, 2017 10:52 UTC