Red Cross targeted in viral fake Ceuta crisis posts

The escalating migration crisis in Ceuta, a Spanish enclave bordering Morocco, has sparked a wave of online misinformation.

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Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that analysis by the EU’s diplomatic service identified Russian and Israeli networks as primary drivers behind the proliferation of false social media narratives, adding that “the international far right” frequently exploits migration issues to launch attacks on nations broadly. Both Moscow and Jerusalem have refuted these allegations.

In less than three weeks, more than 72,000 individuals fled from Moroccan shores into the Spanish territory of Ceuta, creating an unprecedented influx that resulted in at least one hundred deaths and plunged the enclave into a profound humanitarian and political emergency.

Current estimates indicate approximately 5,000 migrants reside within the area, though local sources claim the figure is substantially higher, triggering severe overcrowding, widespread protests across Spain, and sporadic violence.

The Red Cross has increasingly become a focal point for the disinformation campaign, serving as the victim of baseless claims circulating online.

On 27 August, activists in Ceuta attempted to intercept Red Cross convoy vehicles delivering provisions to trapped migrants, deepening public hostility toward the humanitarian organization.

Subsequent years saw the Red Cross supply food and water to individuals navigating dangerous seas or scaling fences from Morocco into the enclave during late July.

Simultaneously, fabricated videos have proliferated, falsely asserting that authorities manipulate assistance for unaccompanied minors—a charge unsupported by the visual evidence presented in those clips.

The pertinent footage was captured at El Trampolí beach in Ceuta and depicts Red Cross staff distributing sustenance to roughly two thousand migrants.

Earlier reporting by the Spanish news agency Europa Press documented a similar scene on 3 August when Red Cross and other charitable groups provided meals to those stranded beside the coastline.

Additional conspiracies allege the Red Cross prioritizes displaced migrants over vulnerable citizens coping with wildfire disasters sweeping the Iberian Peninsula and beyond, despite verifiable records of sustained operational support in both situations.

Independent accounting confirms the organization’s decisive contribution: by 24 August, more than 938 staff and volunteers were mobilised, delivering assistance almost six thousand times and offering temporary shelter to over 5,600 persons.

Continuing its legacy of response, the Red Cross aided more than 143,000 individuals during the 2024 DANA flood crisis through emergency relief and longer‑term recovery endeavours.

Online misconceptions further suggest local constituents pressured the Red Cross to vacate Ceuta, yet accounts reveal alternative logistical pathways enabled continuous distribution without interruption.

The Spanish Red Cross declined to offer further comment upon contact from The Cube, Euronews’ dedicated fact‑checking team.

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