Hundreds of migrants who recently arrived in Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta staged a demonstration on a popular urban beach on Sunday, appealing to Spanish authorities for asylum instead of being returned to Morocco. These individuals are part of the 5,000 to 8,000 migrants who remain in Ceuta following the mass border crossing two weeks ago, which saw over 72,000 people enter the small territory with a population of about 80,000. While the majority voluntarily went back in the days that followed, the city is struggling to support the remaining migrants who are living in challenging conditions on El Trampolin beach or on the outskirts, hoping for an opportunity to travel to mainland Europe.
Ayoub Elarroud from Tetouan, Morocco, expressed the hardships they are facing, including sleeping near the sea in cold and unsanitary conditions, with limited access to the city center due to police restrictions. The protesters displayed Spanish flags and banners demanding not to be returned to Morocco, emphasizing their humanity and chanting phrases such as “We’re tired” and “We need a solution.”
On the rocky shores behind them, some migrants were seen washing clothes while others were fishing using makeshift bamboo rods. The Interior Minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, stated earlier this week that irregularly entered migrants would not be permitted to remain in Ceuta, travel to mainland Spain, or obtain legal status, except in exceptional cases of extreme vulnerability.
Ceuta’s medical board chief, Enrique Roviralta, highlighted the strain on health services, with limited healthcare workers exhausted and facing challenges such as outbreaks of infectious diseases like diarrhea and scabies, as well as a rise in violence-related injuries. Health Minister Monica Garcia refuted claims of a collapsed health system but acknowledged the pressure on local services, emphasizing that associating migration with illness is unjust and xenophobic.
Many Moroccan migrants interviewed expressed dissatisfaction with working conditions in their country, despite having higher qualifications. Mohammed Ouanzar, an automation specialist from Fez, cited low salaries that made it impossible to afford a home or start a family, leading him to seek better opportunities in Europe. Other migrants shared their stories of hardship and desperation, including fleeing conflict zones and enduring perilous journeys to provide a better life for their families.
The situation in Ceuta continues to pose humanitarian challenges as migrants wait for their fates to be determined, with health services stretched thin and migrants facing uncertainty about their futures.