Crisis in Ceuta: Local Government Calls for Urgent Help
The local government of Ceuta, an autonomous Spanish city located on the North African coast, has raised alarms regarding the dire situation involving a large number of migrant children still stranded in the enclave following the recent return of many irregular migrants. The president of the local government, Juan Jesús Vivas, emphasized that the presence of a significant number of children in such circumstances cannot continue and has urged the central government for immediate assistance.
Reports indicate that Madrid has successfully repatriated approximately 70,000 out of the 72,000 migrants who entered Ceuta on July 30. This mass influx has triggered outrage among several European Union governments, leading to calls for Spain to adopt a more stringent stance on irregular immigration. However, around 2,500 migrants remain in Ceuta, including hundreds of unaccompanied minors, who are enduring deplorable conditions due to challenges in accessing food, water, shelter, and sanitation services.
Vivas, representing the conservative People's Party (PP), highlighted that the local authorities are currently responsible for caring for 1,100 migrant minors, despite the facilities being designed to accommodate only 90 individuals. He stressed that this situation is untenable and poses significant risks to public order and safety as reception centers reach full capacity.
On the ground, reporters from the Agence France-Presse have observed groups of unaccompanied minors roaming the streets of Ceuta, congregating in parks and on beaches, while authorities strive to identify them and secure shelter. The highest representative of the Spanish government in Ceuta, Miguel Ángel Pérez, acknowledged the urgent need to address the presence of minors in the streets, labeling it a priority and a serious concern.
Vivas has called for assistance from other regions of Spain through the central government, criticizing the leftist administration's response as delayed and inadequate in confronting the crisis. The organization Save the Children estimates that there are about a thousand unprotected minors among the remaining migrants in Ceuta.
Any efforts to relocate these children to different areas in Spain may encounter resistance from regions governed by the conservative People's Party and the far-right Vox party, which is known for its anti-immigration stance. In response, Socialist Deputy Prime Minister Carlos Cuerva stated that the People's Party and its regional governments must comply with the law just like everyone else.
In a bid to support the care of minors, the Ministry of Youth and Childhood announced an emergency funding package of €25 million (approximately $29 million) for Ceuta, which has a population of 84,000. The ministry has also initiated the conversion of two schools into reception centers for unaccompanied migrant minors, particularly focusing on girls.
Vivas revealed that he had contacted Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's office on July 27 to alert them about the influx of hundreds of migrants from Morocco, warning that the situation was heading toward a serious crisis. He mentioned that the office indicated it would reach out to the relevant ministries to address the matter. However, when he subsequently requested the Interior Ministry to declare a national emergency, the response stated that this was 'legally impossible.' Vivas expressed frustration, stating that sufficient warnings had been issued regarding the escalating tensions and that extraordinary measures were urgently needed.
Nevertheless, the government has maintained that it did not receive prior warnings regarding the actual scale of the crisis.
As reported by france24.com.
