North African immigrants travel home for summer

MORE than 759,000 people have travelled to North Africa since the ‘Operacion Paso del Estrecho’ began on June 3.

The North African immigrants, many of whom drive through Europe to reach Spain and cross the Straits, have left from Algeciras and Tarifa in Cadiz as well as Almeria and Malaga ports.

The port which has registered most activity is Algeciras, with 422,588 people and 133,031 vehicles, 53.2 and 63.9 per cent respectively of the total in Andalucia, although this is 10 per cent fewer passengers and eight per cent fewer vehicles than the same period last year.

Ferries have run with no problems except on July 3 when passenger had to wait four hours to board in Algeciras.