Elma Saiz recibe en el Ministerio a Cruz Roja Española y a jóvenes migrantes solicitantes de Protección Internacional

The Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, Elma Saiz, has presented the Report of the Reception System of International Protection in Spain (SAPI) to José Javier Sánchez Espinosa, Director of the Migration Area of the Spanish Red Cross (CRE). This document, published on the occasion of Refugee Day, details the procedure of the Spanish International Protection System and its evolution to respond to the various international crises. Saiz has highlighted the importance of the report delivered, “this exchange of information with entities such as the Red Cross contributes to continue improving.”

During the event, the minister met, together with other ministerial officials, with the representative of the Red Cross, José Javier Sánchez Espinosa, to whom she gave the report and with whom she talked about the whole process of international protection, in its various aspects.

Elma Saiz has also had the opportunity to hear, at first hand, the testimony of a group of young migrants from Mali and Burkina Faso, who shared their hard experience until they arrived in our country and thanked them for the welcome they received in Spain. These young people, currently in international protection and residing in one of the Care, Emergency and Referral Centers (CAED) managed by the Red Cross, highlighted the importance of training and employment programs that allow them to integrate into Spanish society.

“I have been able to listen to five boys who are fleeing the war in their countries, Mali and Burkina Fasso, and who have told us how they have had to escape, looking for a better future, caring for their families, feeding their children,” explained Saiz, who assured that these testimonies “are the best antidote to racist and xenophobic messages.”

The collaboration between the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration and the Spanish Red Cross is essential to ensure comprehensive care for people seeking international protection. The Red Cross plays a key role in the management of CAEDs, where accommodation and initial assistance are provided to newcomers. In addition, the organization collaborates in labor and social integration programs. The minister wanted to highlight the work of the Red Cross, “many people who do not know of schedules or holidays are permanently attentive to give psychological, formative attention to the people who arrive in our country.”

Report of the International Protection System

As already mentioned, at the meeting, Minister Saiz gave the director of the Migration Area of the Spanish Red Cross, José Javier Sánchez, the report that breaks down the process and data of the international protection system in Spain.

Currently, more than 35,000 people are welcomed in the various phases of the process.

In recent years, migratory pressure in Spain has increased significantly, with more arrivals to the coasts and requests for international protection. In fact, Spain is the second country in terms of number of applications, only behind Germany

The report highlights that, in 2023, Spain recorded an historic record of requests for protection, 37% more than the previous year.

For its part, the response of our country to challenges such as the Canary Islands or Ukraine has demonstrated the flexibility of the reception system, which has been adapting and strengthening its capacity after each new humanitarian crisis, such as the conflict in Syria in 2015, the situation in Afghanistan in 2021 and the crisis in Ukraine in 2022. In less than 10 years, reception places have increased from the 1,500 available in 2015 to more than 19,000 today.

At the same time, the SAPI budget has increased significantly in recent years, reaching more than 652 million euros this year.

The document highlights the importance of the System of Reception and International Protection in Spain, as well as the various initiatives and programs it integrates to meet the needs of migrants and refugees, people whose lives are at risk in their country for political, religious or ethnic reasons, among others; people with the status of stateless persons and applicants for temporary protection.

In addition, the report includes other special programs that complement the international protection system itself and that it develops in collaboration with other public and private institutions and entities, among others: resettlement, relocation and foster care.