Quieter times have been reported from the Spanish enclave of Melilla, now heavily fortified against migrants seeking to enter EU territory.
It has been four months since anyone has managed to get past the strengthened barriers.
That barrier now stretches for 11.5kms, stands six metres high, and has a triple layer of barbed wire. A layer of fine mesh covering the fence makes it difficult to grip. More security personnel can better monitor the increased numbers of sensors and cameras.
Neighbouring Morocco has erected its own barrier and stationed forces to patrol it. It has also dismantled the camps where people gathered before and after their attempts.
Since the beginning of the year, just around 100 people out of a total of about 3,700 have managed to enter Melilla by scaling the fence. In 2014 about 2,100 were successful but this was out of a larger group of 19,000 who tried.
Spain’s new “citizen security” law means that border guards can send migrants back into Morocco before they can ask for asylum.
But despite these measures, Melilla is still a target for those trying to get into Europe. Access attempts continue by sea as well as by hiding in vehicles or simply showing false documents. So far this year it has been reported that 5,800 migrant entries registered.
In earlier years, migrants used the Canary Islands as an entry point. In 2006, the government gave an amnesty for nearly 400,000 undocumented residents in Spain. This was followed the next year by another 39,000 people entering the country illegally, frequently through the Canary Islands.
But by 2014 the number had dwindled to just 300. The route became less targeted after Spain encouraged cooperation with Senegal, Mauritania and Mali as well as mounting sea and air patrols. Spain also enhanced its development aid to those three countries in particular.
