Spain’s Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska provided an updated count of the migrant influx into Ceuta last week, while European Union ministers addressed the crisis on Tuesday. The minister indicated that approximately 72,000 migrants had entered the Spanish border, with 70,000 having returned to Morocco. However, local official Alejandro Ramírez stated that pinpointing the exact number was challenging, estimating that around 3,000 to 5,000 migrants remained in the city.
In response, the Spanish government announced a financial allocation of 25 million euros ($40.5 million Cdn) to support the minors in Ceuta. Additionally, the Spanish Civil Guard established a missing persons office at the border customs house and provided an email address for submitting missing persons reports.
Many migrants voluntarily returned upon realizing the difficulties of reaching mainland Europe or the limited capacity of the small enclave of 84,000 residents to accommodate them.
Among the remaining adult migrants in Ceuta are individuals from various nations, including Sudan, Palestine, Afghanistan, and other African countries. The city’s migrant center, designed for 600 individuals, is at full capacity, leading many migrants to seek shelter on the beach or surrounding hills.
Approximately 1,000 vulnerable minors, separated from their families, are still in Ceuta, struggling in an unfamiliar environment. Tragic accounts emerged, such as a 17-year-old girl witnessing her brother’s drowning during the chaotic crossing.
Grande-Marlaska disclosed that the death toll had risen to 75, primarily from water-related incidents during the crossing. While Spain reported 75 deaths, Morocco recorded an additional 11 fatalities not included in the Spanish count.
The influx prompted EU ministers to discuss various measures, including enhanced intelligence sharing, monitoring of social media for early detection of migration patterns, and bolstering border protection. The ministers debated tougher migration policies, with Denmark and Italy advocating for stricter measures.
Migration remains a contentious issue within the EU, with historical spikes in 2015-2016 and a recent uptick during the pandemic, totaling around 316,000 irregular border crossings. Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, observed significant declines in irregular crossings in recent years.
The ongoing situation in Ceuta underscores the complexities surrounding migration and the need for collaborative efforts to address humanitarian challenges and strengthen border security.
