About 72,000 migrants crossed into Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta during last week’s extraordinary influx, according to the Spanish government. About 2,500 people remained in the territory one week later, although Ceuta’s leader estimated the number still there at between 3,000 and 5,000.
Those who remain include people sleeping on beaches and streets without tents, blankets or reliable access to bathrooms. Authorities said they were installing toilets and additional showers at El Trampolín beach, while police planned to open an information point.
At a glance:
- Spanish government estimate: about 72,000 arrivals and about 2,500 people still in Ceuta.
- Ceuta’s leader estimated that 80,000 people entered and 3,000 to 5,000 remained.
- About 1,300 unaccompanied children were estimated to be among those still in the enclave.
- Estimates of deaths in the crossing reached as high as 141, with dozens still missing.
People left without shelter
Imad, a 26-year-old Yemeni national, said he and others were sleeping in the open at El Trampolín beach. He described freezing nights by the sea, unbearable daytime heat and a lack of bathrooms. He said conditions initially left people facing hunger and thirst, with some eating leaves and drinking dirty water.
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The situation improved slightly after organisations including the Red Cross began providing food. Local volunteers were also cooking for as many as 400 people a day, while the NGO Luna Blanca launched an operation to distribute about 5,000 meals daily.
Children and women face particular risks
An estimated 1,300 unaccompanied children remain in Ceuta, according to the report, while NGOs warned that hundreds more could be moving around the city without protection. A 16-year-old said the reception centre for minors was full when she arrived and that she had been sleeping rough.
Residents in the Sidi Mbarek neighbourhood created a makeshift courtyard shelter with tents, watched overnight by local people. The neighbourhood association said women and minors were among those sleeping in hidden areas or living in extreme vulnerability alongside large numbers of men.
More context: Why Italy’s Spain Border Controls Are Testing Schengen.
Uncertainty keeps Ceuta on edge
Ceuta’s conservative leader, Juan Jesús Vivas, said the city remained nervous about the possibility of another mass crossing. Fresh online posts had called for another crossing in mid-August, while disagreement continued over how many people entered and how many were returned.
The precise death toll also remained unclear, with estimates as high as 141 and dozens of people still missing. The Spanish government and the European Union were dealing with the wider political consequences as residents and aid groups continued responding on the ground.
Local residents fill gaps in support
Residents have brought food and clothing to migrants at El Trampolín beach. Aisha Ahmed Ammar, who visits daily with her children, also shares her phone’s Wi-Fi connection so people can contact relatives.
She said many of those she met were asylum seekers from Sudan, Egypt or Yemen. The response has offered immediate help, but residents and community organisers said the improvised arrangements do not provide bathrooms, beds or a lasting solution.
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