Ceuta Faces Unprecedented Influx of Migrants
In recent days, over 1,500 migrants have successfully crossed the European Union's external border via the sea route, with many of them sleeping outside an overcrowded reception center. The situation has become particularly concerning due to the significant number of unaccompanied minors, posing serious challenges for the city of Ceuta, a Spanish exclave located on the northern coast of Morocco.
The local authorities have reported a notable surge in the number of migrants swimming from Morocco to Ceuta. On Wednesday, Juan Jesús Vivas, the regional chief, announced that more than 1,500 individuals, including both adults and minors, had arrived by sea in just a few days. He emphasized that the reception centers are overwhelmed and at capacity.
This unprecedented influx is being regarded as unusual by the authorities in Ceuta. Although it is not uncommon for migrants to attempt the perilous crossing during the summer months, the current situation raises alarms. Many of these individuals are not proficient swimmers and often rely on inflatable rings to stay afloat, which greatly increases the risks involved.
Past attempts to cross have tragically resulted in loss of life, with Vivas noting that 60 bodies were recovered from the sea last year alone. Recently, at least four fatalities have been recorded during this current wave of crossings. The reasons behind the sudden surge of young men attempting to swim to Ceuta this summer remain unclear.
The Spanish Civil Guard, along with maritime rescue services and the Red Cross, have been actively rescuing individuals from the sea and transporting them to Ceuta. On just one night, over a hundred people were rescued from the waters. Currently, hundreds of migrants are sleeping outside the reception center, highlighting the dire state of resources in the area.
The majority of the arrivals are Moroccan and Algerian nationals, with many being minors, which complicates the situation for the Ceuta local government. Currently, there are 430 unaccompanied foreign minors under the city's care, 220 of whom have arrived in just the past fifteen days. Alejandro Ramírez, a spokesperson for the regional government, has described the situation as "extremely serious" and has called for an "extraordinary and immediate response" from the central government in Madrid to prevent an impending crisis.
Vivas has criticized a ruling by Spain's Supreme Court from July, which prohibits the immediate return of migrants who arrive by sea without a prior assessment of their cases. Although EU law restricts such expulsions at the border, Spain has previously cited a ruling from the European Court of Human Rights that allows for the immediate return of individuals who forcibly breach the border fence under certain conditions. However, the Supreme Court has clarified that these pushbacks cannot be applied to migrants who arrive by swimming, as they do not cross a border barrier at any point.
Ceuta is secured with maritime border fences and other measures, making the journey particularly challenging for those attempting to reach the Spanish city and its beaches, Benzú and Tarajal. To reach these locations, one must swim for nearly four hours from Moroccan territory while circumventing the barricades.
As reported by welt.de.
