More than 13,000 migrants, adults and minors alike, remain in Ceuta following the mass wave of arrivals recorded on July 30 and 31, leaving the Spanish autonomous city under enormous pressure. According to figures released by Spanish authorities, approximately 2,100 of those who reached the city are minors, while the number of adults is approaching 11,000.
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Ceuta: Around 2,100 minors among the migrants
Of the approximately 2,100 minors, nearly 700 are girls, according to statements made by Spain’s Minister of Youth and Childhood, Sira Rego. The minister stressed the urgent need to accelerate the transfer of unaccompanied minors to mainland Spain in order to relieve pressure on the local community.
Meanwhile, the identification process continues for children who have not yet been registered within the official protection system. Procedures are also under way for minors who have expressed a wish to return to their families in Morocco. Any such return requires strict checks to confirm that a safe and stable family environment exists in the country of origin to receive them.
New facilities and expanded reception capacity
To manage the mounting pressure, the Spanish government is planning to establish new dedicated facilities within the city, with the goal of increasing migrant processing capacity and speeding up repatriation procedures for those determined to be ineligible for international protection.
So far, around 3,400 reception places have been made available, with authorities announcing that this number is expected to rise to 6,000 within the coming days.
The sheer scale of the migration wave becomes even more striking when set against the city’s population. Ceuta is home to approximately 84,000 residents, meaning the presence of an additional 13,000 people represents a sudden population surge of more than 15%.
Eight arrests in a single night
Tensions remain high, with reports of frequent incidents of disorder. During the previous night alone, police carried out eight arrests.
At the same time, two people were taken to hospital with stab wounds, as authorities and local services continue to grapple with the ongoing fallout from the large-scale migration influx.
