REUTERS/Borja Suarez/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMADRID, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Spain said on Thursday it would create additional emergency accommodation for 3,000 undocumented migrants in military barracks, hotels and hostels amid a 55% jump in arrivals by sea this year, which has triggered political tension.
Escriva declined to disclose how many additional beds will be created, but a ministry source told Reuters it would be around 3,000 in total.
But this time the central government's approach has been to expand emergency accommodations across the country, hoping to ease pressure on the Canaries.
Following police screenings, migrants will be placed in the military barracks, hotels, hostels and other types of accommodations on a voluntary basis, the ministry source said.
Escriva argued the situation was well-handled and manageable, and said some conservative politicians were whipping up what he called xenophobic rhetoric.
Persons:
Borja Suarez, Jose Luis Escriva, Escriva, Isabel Diaz Ayuso, Belén Carreño, Joan Faus, Emma Pinedo, Jonathan Oatis
Organizations:
Gran Canaria, REUTERS, Rights, Union, Canaries, Madrid, Thomson
Locations:
Spanish, Arguineguin, Gran, Spain, Rights MADRID, Madrid, West Africa, Canary, Italy, Lampedusa