The influx of Malian migrants to Vitoria-Gasteiz continues to rise, with many seeking to process their asylum applications. A significant number remain in the city during this period, often waiting under the arcades of residential buildings in Salburua or near the Betoño police station.

In response to this situation, a volunteer network named Salburua Harrera Sarea, comprising 50 individuals, has been established. This network assists Malians daily, providing overnight shelter in the mornings and evenings, and accompanying them to showers at a civic center opened by the Vitoria-Gasteiz City Council at midday. They also offer support with medical appointments and travel expenses.

The network is urging institutions for a structural and coordinated response, emphasizing that the situation is not isolated or exceptional, but rather a systemic violation of fundamental rights. They highlight the bottleneck in the asylum application process, which forces many individuals to sleep on the streets or in churches.

Currently, approximately 200 Malians in Vitoria-Gasteiz are awaiting appointments, though over 1,000 individuals have received assistance from Salburua volunteers in the past four months. The network refutes fear-mongering narratives, asserting that there have been no issues of coexistence with these migrants and that their presence contributes to neighborhood safety.

The primary challenge lies in the difficulty of securing appointments, which can only be booked online, posing a significant hurdle for those unfamiliar with Spanish. Around 20 appointments are distributed weekly, an insufficient number given the large volume of asylum seekers. Even after obtaining an appointment, some individuals remain unsheltered, not having been directed to public resources.

The volunteer network has issued a call for collaboration and will hold an open assembly on May 4, inviting all interested residents to participate.