Five Underage Migrants Hospitalized in Ceuta After Alleged Sexual Assaults
In a deeply troubling incident, a hospital in the occupied city of Ceuta recently received five underage female migrants, all under the age of 14, who had just arrived from Morocco seeking medical treatment after allegedly suffering sexual assaults. This situation highlights one of the most severe humanitarian crises resulting from the recent wave of mass migration to the region.
According to reports from "El Pueblo de Ceuta," the young girls were brought to the hospital due to the traumatic experiences they endured during their journey. There are concerns that the actual number of victims may be higher, as some individuals may not come forward to file official complaints despite undergoing medical examinations.
As of Thursday evening, the local prosecutor's office in Ceuta had initiated preliminary investigations into at least two cases of sexual assault; however, no arrests have been made in connection with these incidents thus far. Judicial sources have indicated that they have received information regarding several attempted sexual assaults, and they anticipate that the number of reported cases may increase in the coming days as more victims come forward with testimonies and complaints.
Following Spanish legal protocols, the handling of these cases requires medical reports and testimonies from the victims, along with any available surveillance recordings or witness statements that could assist in identifying the perpetrators. It has been reported that some attempted assaults were thwarted thanks to the intervention of local residents in Ceuta, with some suspects allegedly being regular inhabitants of the city. However, the authorities have yet to disclose the identities of any accused individuals.
In response to the crisis, local authorities have established temporary facilities to shelter the minors. The "Reina Sofia" center is currently accommodating more than 110 girls and adolescents, while the "Príncipe Felipe" center has been designated for male minors. Additionally, some local facilities have transformed into emergency protection spaces, including the "La Reina" playground in the Sidi Mubarak area, where women are reportedly spending nights in search of safer accommodations amid the ongoing humanitarian challenges stemming from mass migration to the city.
As reported by ar.telquel.ma.
