More or less since the late spring, the eastern coast of Andalucia, including the Costa Tropical, has been receiving dozens of illegal immigrants in desperate conditions, striving to reach land – undetected.

The 14 immigrants from North Africa that were intercepted on the 15th are just one more entry on the ship’s logs of the em>Salvamento Martitimo (Coastguards) and more food, water and care to supply at the Cruz Roja post in Motril Port.

This time there was just young men in relatively good shape, but increasing numbers of pateras (small wooden cutters with an outboard motor) have been intercepted with young children and pregnant women aboard.

Now, many female readers will wonder what kind of mother would risk her children in such a sea crossing, especially if it has yet to be born, but it should be remembered that the sea crossing – arguably the most perilous part – is just the final leg in a long trek from sub-Saharan Africa. When these women started their journey, they were not pregnant, but it can take up to two years to get to the North African coast to begin the sea crossing. Along the way, many are raped or had to ‘pay their way’ and the young child or pregnancy is the result.

So what do you do when you reach the North African coast – turn round and return to the misery that you were trying to escape from? You can’t stay in Morocco – there’s no means of sustaining you and your child.

You can only go on and that wooden craft that will cost you all of your bitterly earned savings and your body behind the guard post… again, as it appears to be the only salvation. I guess that you just pray that the sea doesn’t swallow you and you can reach Eden.

On the same day, by the way, three other craft were located and brought in; one had 27 immigrants on board, 15 of whom were women, of which four were pregnant.

(News: Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)