Hundreds of migrants who recently arrived in Ceuta, a Spanish North African enclave, gathered for a demonstration on a popular urban beach on Sunday, calling on Spanish authorities to grant them asylum rather than deporting them to Morocco. They were part of the 5,000 to 8,000 individuals who remained in Ceuta following the mass border crossing two weeks ago, where over 72,000 people entered the small territory of about 80,000 people, with the majority voluntarily returning in the days that followed.
Facing overstretched resources in the city, many migrants were living in precarious conditions on El Trampolin beach or on the outskirts of the city while waiting for an opportunity to travel to mainland Europe. Ayoub Elarroud from Tetouan, Morocco, expressed the harsh living conditions, mentioning sleeping near the sea in cold and unpleasant surroundings, and facing difficulties due to police restrictions on accessing the city center.
During the protest, migrants displayed Spanish flags and banners with messages such as “We don’t want to go back to Morocco” and “We are also human,” accompanied by chants expressing exhaustion and the need for a solution. Some migrants were seen washing clothes and fishing with makeshift bamboo rods on the rocky shores behind them.
Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska stated earlier in the week that irregularly entering migrants would not be permitted to remain in Ceuta, travel to mainland Spain, or obtain legal status, except in extreme vulnerability cases. The strain on health services in Ceuta was highlighted by Enrique Roviralta, the head of Ceuta’s medical board, who mentioned that the limited healthcare workers were exhausted, leading to outbreaks of diseases like infectious diarrhea and scabies, as well as an increase in violence-related injuries.
Health Minister Monica Garcia denied claims that local health services had collapsed but acknowledged the pressure they were under. She emphasized that associating migration with illness is unjust and xenophobic, mentioning a moderate risk of epidemic outbreaks for migrants and a low risk for residents. Migrant interviews revealed that many were motivated by poor working conditions in Morocco, despite holding higher qualifications, with some expressing a desire for a better life in Europe due to economic hardships in their home country.
Individual stories of migrants like Emmanuel, who fled conflict in Nigeria to secure a better future for his children, shed light on the challenges and aspirations driving their journeys. The article also highlighted the arduous journeys undertaken by migrants like Mohammad Ismail Hossain from Bangladesh and Ousmane from Senegal, illustrating the diverse reasons prompting individuals to seek asylum in Ceuta.
