In an alarming development, hundreds of migrants are currently swimming from Morocco to the small Spanish enclave of Ceuta, located at the northern tip of the country, pushing the limits of border security. Local authorities reported this concerning trend on Wednesday, according to the Associated Press (AP).
The number of migrants arriving in Ceuta has reached an unusually high level, with over 1,500 individuals, including both adults and minors, having made the perilous journey across the sea. The reception centers in Ceuta are overwhelmed, with the Spanish Interior Minister describing the situation as "extraordinary" in an interview with the television network laSexta.
Current Influx of Migrants to Ceuta
Juan Jesús Vivas, the head of the Ceuta government, provided specific figures to journalists, stating, "In recent days, more than 1,500 migrants, including adults and minors, have reached Ceuta by sea." He further noted that the reception centers are "collapsing and overstretched." Although summer typically sees an increase in crossings due to favorable weather, the current number of swimmers has been explicitly labeled as unusual by authorities in Ceuta.
The Spanish Interior Ministry, responsible for border control and the tracking of irregular migration, refrained from confirming the number of crossings or specifying how many migrants arrived by swimming. They referred to their bi-monthly migration report, with the next issue expected on August 3rd.
A Dangerous Journey
The journey to Ceuta is fraught with danger, and tragically, many migrants have lost their lives attempting to make the crossing. Vivas revealed that several individuals have died in the process, with 60 bodies discovered at sea last year alone.
To rescue individuals from the water, various agencies are actively involved. According to local authorities, the Spanish Civil Guard, the maritime rescue service, and the Red Cross are utilizing boats to pick up swimmers and transport them to Ceuta.
Currently, conditions outside the overcrowded reception center are dire, with hundreds of migrants reportedly sleeping outdoors due to the facility exceeding its capacity.
The majority of those arriving are Moroccan nationals, with a small number of Algerians who resided in Morocco also seeking to migrate to Europe. The reasons behind the recent surge of migrants swimming to Ceuta remain unclear. Vivas criticized a ruling by the Spanish Supreme Court earlier this month, which stated that migrants arriving by sea cannot be sent back to Morocco without due process, unlike those who enter by land through border fences.
However, some activists are skeptical about the direct link between the court ruling and the current influx. Omar Naji, president of the Moroccan Human Rights Association in Eastern Morocco, pointed out that most Moroccans likely remain unaware of the judicial decision. Thus, the exact catalyst for this surge in crossings is still uncertain.
As reported by berliner-zeitung.de.
