Such has been the onslaught this summer with of arrivals from North Africa that the Army has set up a tent encampment in Motril Port to help cope.

The UME (Military Unit for Emergencies) has supplied 80 personnel, 24 vehicles in order to set up the small tent city within the port confines, under the operational name of Operación Motril 18.

This military body, which is used to aid in natural disasters around the country and abroad has recently set up a similar temporary accommodation camp in San Roque in Cádiz, where the same problem is unfolding.

There arrival couldn’t have come soon because the port receiving centres have long been overwhelmed which forced the Town Hall to give the Municipal Sports Centre (Emilio Hidalgo) over to this purpose, presently housing 123 people under the management of the Policía Nacional.

The tent installations, comprising of 12 large tents, can accommodate 250 people, providing not only beds, but also several portable, shower blocks. The placement of the temporary shelter is just over the port perimeter wall from Playa Cable.

(News: Motril, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)