Spain

As at 28 February 2021, over 4,200 refugees and migrants had arrived in Spain via the Western Mediterranean route since the beginning of 2021. In 2020, a total of 40,326 arrivals were registered by UNHCR. ? 

In late 2020, heightened security and intensified patrols were seen in the Mediterranean. As a result, arrivals to the Spanish mainland decreased and people were pushed to take longer and even more dangerous routes. While most of the arrivals in Spain in previous years occurred in the southern region of Andalusia, where the crossing from Morocco is much shorter, the Canary Islands are currently receiving the highest number of sea arrivals in Spain. ? 

Refugees and migrants still try to reach the Spanish coast via the Western Mediterranean route, but the number has significantly decreased compared to 2019. Over 88,700 people applied for asylum in 2020, a decrease of 25% compared to 2019. 32% of the applicants were from Venezuela and 31% from Colombia. Movement restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic have impacted the livelihoods of migrant workers.?