Spain Investigates Possible Delays in Migrant Rescue

The ombudsman in Spain is investigating the sinking of a boat that had set off from Morocco heading to the Spanish Canary Islands, where 30 migrants are feared to have died. This week, two migration-focused organizations, (Walking Borders) and (Alarm Phone), criticized Spain and Morocco for not intervening earlier to rescue the boat's passengers. Spain claims it followed all appropriate procedures. According to "Walking Borders," the boat sank on Wednesday, 40 miles off the African coast, after 12 hours of sending the first distress calls. The organizations reported that about 60 people were on board the boat. The Spanish maritime rescue service stated that two bodies were found, one of a child and the other of an adult man, while Morocco rescued 24 migrants. The ombudsman is responsible for monitoring any potential violations by the state against civil liberties and can make recommendations to parliament, while the government is constitutionally responsible for acknowledging the ombudsman's reports and acting upon them.