What happened after 70,000 migrants reached Ceuta?
Key Takeaways
- More than 70,000 migrants entered Ceuta in under 48 hours.
- Over 1,000 unaccompanied children remain in overcrowded shelters.
- Spain says migrant minors must enter child-protection services before any further action.
More than 1,000 unaccompanied children remain stranded in Ceuta as overcrowded shelters struggle to cope after a record migrant influx from Morocco.
Migrant children and families remained in makeshift shelters in Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta on Sunday after a massive influx from neighbouring Morocco overwhelmed local reception facilities.
Footage shows children sleeping on cardboard and makeshift bedding beside warehouses. Some said they had spent days without food, water or basic sanitation while pleading with authorities to move them into shelters.
"We sleep here on the ground. Even for the restroom, God forbid, we can't find a place to relieve ourselves, and I'm asking the authorities to take us to the shelter for minors. This is what I'm requesting," one minor said.
"We crossed the sea, and the police are harassing us. Just a few moments ago, they even beat up a journalist here. The women here are sleeping on nothing but cardboard. The suffering here is immense," another added.
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Spanish authorities estimated that more than 70,000 people crossed into Ceuta in less than 48 hours between July 30 and 31, making it the largest migrant influx in the enclave's history.
Most of those who crossed have since returned to Morocco, but more than 1,000 unaccompanied children remain in Ceuta, where reception centres continue to operate beyond capacity.
By February 25, Spanish authorities had relocated 1,019 unaccompanied migrant children from Ceuta, Melilla and the Canary Islands to other parts of Spain under changes to the country's immigration system. The legislation passed without the support of the conservative People's Party or Vox.
In July, Spain approved €35 million ($41 million) to support the care of unaccompanied migrant children nationwide, including €5.5 million ($6.4 million) for Ceuta.
Under Spanish law, unaccompanied minors are protected by child welfare procedures and cannot be summarily returned across the border. Authorities must determine their status before placing them under the care of child-protection services.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
