Carla Aliño | Valencia (EFE) of their applications for international protection.
This was stated to EFE by Moses Von Kallon, president of the Aquarius Survivors association, which next Saturday, June 24, will commemorate the fifth anniversary of the arrival in Valencia of this ship in which the 629 Africans rescued traveled after finding themselves adrift off the coast of the coasts of Libya.
On June 17, 2018, this ship arrived at the port of Valencia, after several weeks wandering around the Mediterranean waiting for some country to open its doors, in an unprecedented humanitarian emergency operation, which was called “Hope of the Mediterranean”. .
Several of its occupants have been moving to other European countries, especially France, but the majority have remained in Spain, where the first months they received help from the Government and a large part of them (374) formalized their request for international protection in this country.
All the requests were accepted for processing, and currently, with data from the Ministry of the Interior as of May 25, 368 have already been resolved, of which 261 are unfavorable and 32 are archived, which represents 79.6% of the total. .
Likewise, 75 protection requests have been accepted, of which 63 have been granted asylum (the majority -39- from Sudan), and there are six protection requests pending resolution, from people from Mali, Nigeria and Togo.
Waiting for regularization
The situation of the Aquarius, which landed in Spain at the invitation of the Government after being rejected by the Italian and Maltese authorities, placed the humanitarian drama of immigration in the Mediterranean at the center of European politics, and unleashed a wave of solidarity, especially in the Valencian Community.
However, five years later, those people who were invited to this country, to which they will always be grateful for saving their lives, feel bad, because they thought that they could rebuild their lives here without problems, and they continue “fighting to have a dignified life.” Von Kallon says.
He points out that the vast majority of Aquarius immigrants are in an irregular situation in Spain, which makes it very difficult for them to access the labor market or a home, and calls for the situation of these people to be regularized, since all they want is to be able to work and live.
“It’s good for everyone,” he says, because if these people get papers they can work, contribute and pay taxes in this country, which gave them “a great welcome” and to which they will always be grateful for having saved their lives.
humanity and equality
Regarding whether they view the change of government in the Valencian Community and the entry of Vox in the regional executive with concern, Moses Von Kallon has stated that they do not know about political parties, but they do know about “humanity and equality”, which is what they are demanding to all political formations, especially those that govern.
Their concern at the moment, they affirm, is to be able to have the documentation in order to be able to develop a dignified life in this country, and they ask the parties not to forget Human Rights.
Aquarius, fifth birthday
The Aquarius Survivors Association will celebrate the fifth anniversary of the arrival of this ship in Valencia on June 24, with various free activities open to the entire population, which will take place in shed 2 of the port.
With this initiative they intend to celebrate “coexistence and diversity, claim the human rights of the refugee and migrant collective and recognize all the entities and organizations that every day contribute to improving equality and inclusion in the Valencian Community”.
The program includes the delivery of recognitions, a photographic exhibition, children’s activities, games, live music from African and Valencian groups, a theatrical performance and a fair for social entities.
Carla Aliño