Spain has opened its first refugee camp in the Algeciras area to house migrants who have made the perilous journey across the Mediterranean sea.

The temporary site, set up on a field in Crinavis near San Roque in the Cadiz Province, is set to house thousands of migrants arriving from Morocco at three ports in the province.

The facility, which saw the first 442 people arrive on Saturday, can house a maximum of 600 people for 72 hours.

Spain has opened its first refugee camp in the Algeciras area and saw the first 442 people arrive on Saturday

The facility will take in 400 people every 24 hours and shelter those rescued and taken to Tarifa, Barbate and Algeciras

The giant camp filled with orange tents, beds, toilets and showers will take in 400 people every 24 hours and shelter those rescued and taken to Tarifa, Barbate and Algeciras.

Its opening follows a pledge made by European Union member states at June's Paris summit to support the country's migration crisis.

During his Madrid visit last Friday Dimitri Avramopoulos, the EU Commissioner for Migration, said: 'Spain has the full support of the European Commission in dealing with the increased arrivals along the western Mediterranean Sea route.'

The temporary site is set up on a field in Crinavis near San Roque in Cadiz Province

However European Union have officials warned the handling of those seeking asylum could lead to a rise in anti-immigration political populism.

They fear a return of populist parties, including the far right La Liga in Italy being elected.

New leader of the Spain's conservative Partido Popular(PP) Pablo Casado recently claimed Spain could not accommodate the 'millions' of migrants arriving to the country.

However European Union fear the handling of those seeking asylum could lead to a rise in anti-immigration political populism

New leader of Spain's conservative Partido Popular(PP) party Pablo Casado recently claimed Spain could not accommodate the 'millions' of migrants arriving to the country

Far right political party Vox has also organised a meeting in Algeciras this Wednesday to address what they call a migrant 'invasion'.

However, Sergio Carrera, of the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) think tank, said the Spanish government were entitled to deal with the issue.

He told Euro Weekly: 'The response of the Spanish government has been correct, putting the figures in perspective and showing that we are not facing a crisis.'

According to statistics from the United Nations more than 23,000 migrants, many of whom are refugees fleeing war and poverty in sub Saharan Africa, have arrived in Spain so far this year.