Migrant Crisis Deepens in Ceuta as Thousands Remain in Limbo Amidst Spanish Processing Delays

CEUTA, Spain — For weeks, migrants in the Spanish territory of Ceuta had gathered on a beach away from the city center, sleeping on cardboard sheets, under reed huts, and guarding their few possessions in tattered plastic bags. By Thursday morning, they were gone, escorted by Spanish police to makeshift shelters. Yet within an hour, other migrants began sifting through the debris they left behind—searching for anything of value: an abandoned mattress, plastic chairs, sheets, or a scrap of tarp.

This scene reflects the ongoing humanitarian crisis unfolding in Ceuta, where up to 10,000 migrants—including women and children—are still present weeks after a surge saw over 72,000 cross into the small Spanish enclave bordering Morocco. At least 90 people died during those initial crossings. Three weeks on, Spanish authorities continue to struggle with providing adequate shelter and support for those refusing to leave, while simultaneously grappling with uncertainty over the exact number of people remaining in the city of 84,000.

In the immediate aftermath of the border rush, many migrants returned to Morocco, deterred by the challenges of settling in Ceuta and the slim prospects of reaching mainland Europe from the territory. However, thousands chose to stay, taking refuge in the hills surrounding Ceuta, on beaches, and around a migrant reception center. Official estimates vary widely: city officials suggest between 9,000 to 10,000 remain—including approximately 2,000 unaccompanied minors—based on daily food distribution figures from aid organizations. Meanwhile, Spain’s interior ministry places the count closer to 5,000.

The U.N. Refugee Agency (UNHCR) recently highlighted significant humanitarian and logistical hurdles in Ceuta, particularly regarding access to shelter, fundamental services, andnutrition. While the majority of those who crossed in late July originate from Morocco, individuals from conflict zones such as Sudan, Mali, and Yemen have also made the perilous journey across the Strait of Gibraltar.

UNHCR has called upon the Spanish government to expedite the processing of asylum applications, estimating that roughly 1,200 individuals currently in Ceuta may qualify for international protection, according to Paula Barrachina, a spokesperson for the agency in Spain.

Spain’s Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security, and Migration continues its efforts to relocate migrants into temporary housing facilities. On Thursday, Minister Elma Saiz announced that space had been secured to accommodate 1,800 people at a parking lot and a military venue occasionally used for religious gatherings. Despite these measures, an Associated Press photographer documented migrants roaming the streets later that same day, while hundreds of women and children sought shelter in informal camps organized by local residents.

Khadija Rifai, a 20-year-old woman from Morocco, expressed gratitude for assistance provided to minors but questioned why no clear path forward exists for adults like herself. “They help the minors and the youngsters, but they haven’t found any solutions for us,” she said earlier this week.

Rifai described her pre-migration life in Morocco as “normal,” yet circumstances led her and her husband to swim ashore in late July in pursuit of improved opportunities and healthcare. Her husband was reportedly sent back to Morocco, but she avoided detection and remained in Ceuta. Now, she dreams of reuniting with him and eventually settling in mainland Spain, where she hopes to start a family.

“Even though we suffered here in Ceuta, we hope that once we reach the mainland, life will be good and we will have a house, a car, and everything we dreamed of,” Rifai stated. Ceuta’s mayor, Juan Jesús Vivas, criticized the national government for insufficient action during a press briefing on Thursday. His remarks came shortly after Spanish police escorted hundreds of male migrants from the beach through the heart of the city to a designated shelter facility.

Vivas, a member of the conservative Popular Party, argued that relocating migrants rather than addressing root causes showed little commitment toward resolving the crisis. The Spanish migration ministry defended its approach, emphasizing that each case requires individual evaluation. According to a ministry spokesperson, police must first identify individuals who entered illegally, verify nationalities and backgrounds, assess eligibility for international protection, and determine deportation orders—either voluntary or enforced.

Migrants in Ceuta insist they’re prepared to endure the prolonged uncertainty. Earlier in the week, dozens gathered peacefully on a seaside promenade, holding signs reading “Asylum” alongside Spanish flags. Among them was Mohamed Yaqoub, an 18-year-old from Chad who spent several days hiding in wooded areas following pursuit by Spanish soldiers. He expressed his determination to remain and pursue educational goals in France someday.

His aspirations face logistical barriers. Departures from Ceuta—and Melilla, Spain’s other North African enclave—are subject to strict exit controls at ports and airports, complicating plans for undocumented migrants hoping to travel to continental Europe. “We ask them to allow us entry and give us the necessary papers and documents,” Yaqoub conveyed via written message to an AP photographer. “The most important thing for us is to get the papers.”

___

Naishadham reported from Madrid.

Source link