Migrants Swim to Ceuta as Officials Say Enclave ‘Overwhelmed’

Migrants Swim to Ceuta as Officials Say Enclave ‘Overwhelmed’
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Based on a report from The Guardian, dozens of migrants, including children, attempted to swim from Morocco to the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in what has become an increasingly frequent and risky route. This recent attempt occurred on Saturday morning, with many trying to take advantage of foggy conditions to avoid detection.

According to the report, Spanish and Moroccan security forces intercepted a majority of the approximately 100 people who attempted the crossing, but seven children successfully reached the shore. The authorities in Ceuta have warned that the enclave’s reception system is “overwhelmed” and on the brink of collapse. The president of the autonomous city, Juan Jesús Rivas, stated that Ceuta is hosting 528 foreign children, far exceeding its official capacity of just 27.

To address the situation, contingency plans are in place to relocate the children to other Spanish regions. The report notes that between 2021 and 2024, around 450 minors were successfully moved to other parts of Spain. The UN’s International Organization for Migration has recorded that 155 people have lost their lives so far this year attempting to reach Spain from North Africa, with seven of them being children.