[Humanitarian emergency in the Canary Islands: a comprehensive challenge to the health and social system]

Migration from Africa is a phenomenon intrinsically linked to the history of Spain that has shaped societies and cultures over the centuries, transforming the demographic and social composition of the country. Particularly since the second half of the 20th century, Spain has progressively become a destination country for immigrants from various parts of the African continent and, thus, various political actions have taken place to control these migratory flows. However, border blockades, difficulties in boarding from the country of origin or the danger of sea routes have led to a notable diversification of the migratory routes followed to reach European soil through the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.