- Spanish police have started clearing thousands of migrants from the beaches of Ceuta, an enclave on North Africa’s coast which saw a surge of arrivals from neighbouring Morocco in July.
- During the move, officers struggled to contain crowds, shots were heard with reports of police firing into the air, and some migrants broke through the cordon along the 2km (1.2 mile) route to the port.
- Several hundred migrants have reached the camp, which has a capacity for 1,700 people, and more than 170 police officers have been deployed, including drone technicians, according to Efe.
- The influx followed a Spanish Supreme Court ruling that migrants stopped at sea cannot be summarily returned to Morocco, after which social media spread misinformation and offered help to cross the border; at least 100 people died during the crossing, according to local authorities.
- The authorities have built new temporary housing inside Ceuta’s port to hold 1,700 people, while NGOs say thousands remain unhoused and have been sleeping rough in camps.
- On Friday, EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner said that images of migrants crossing into Ceuta have fuelled support for far-right parties despite a sharp decline in irregular arrivals in Europe following tougher migration policies.
- The chaotic scenes have fueled opposition criticism of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, with the opposition accusing him of knowing about the influx in advance, while Sánchez insists it was impossible to predict and blames trafficking gangs and social media hoaxes.
- Residents of the 18.5 sq km (7.2 sq miles) territory have expressed safety concerns, with some destroying shelters and blocking aid, and Mayor Juan Jesus Vivas told the European Parliament that migrants had turned Ceuta into a "pressure cooker".
Spanish police have initiated a significant operation to clear thousands of migrants from Ceuta's beaches, following a surge in arrivals from Morocco. The operation commenced early Friday, with riot police deploying rubber bullets and batons to manage the crowds.1
More than 72,000 migrants entered the 18.5 square kilometer enclave in late July, although many have since left. Currently, 10,000 migrants are estimated to remain, with authorities establishing a new temporary camp at the port to accommodate 1,700 people.561011
The camp, equipped with showers and beds, aims to provide shelter for those who have been living rough. However, NGOs report that thousands are still unhoused. The chaotic scenes during the operation saw some migrants breaking through police cordons, highlighting the tension in the area.
EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner noted that the images from Ceuta have fueled support for far-right parties, despite a decline in irregular arrivals in Europe. He emphasized the importance of returning migrants quickly to demonstrate control over the situation.
The operation is part of the government's strategy to concentrate migrants in facilities for identification and care, amidst criticism of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's handling of the crisis. Local residents have expressed safety concerns, and some have even blocked aid to migrants, exacerbating the situation.131415
The influx followed a Supreme Court ruling that migrants intercepted at sea cannot be returned to Morocco, leading to misinformation on social media that encouraged crossings. Tragically, at least 100 people have died during these attempts, according to local authorities.789
“The operation is part of a government effort to identify and care for migrants while their status is determined, but NGOs say thousands remain unhoused. EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner warned that images from Ceuta 'fuel the far right' despite declining arrivals.”
