Hundreds of migrants who recently arrived in Ceuta, a North African enclave of Spain, gathered for a protest on a popular urban beach on Sunday, calling 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 a mass border crossing two weeks ago, where over 72,000 people entered the territory, with the majority voluntarily returning in the subsequent days.
Facing overstretched resources, most migrants are living in precarious conditions on El Trampolin beach or in the city’s outskirts while hoping for an opportunity to continue their journey to continental Europe. Ayoub Elarroud, hailing from Tetouan, Morocco, expressed the hardships they are enduring, including sleeping next to the sea in cold and unsanitary conditions, with authorities restricting their movement to 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,” while voicing their exhaustion and the need for a solution. Some migrants could be seen washing clothes and fishing on the rocky shores nearby.
Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska recently stated that irregularly entered migrants would not be permitted to remain in Ceuta, travel to mainland Spain, or obtain legal status, except in rare cases of extreme vulnerability. Meanwhile, Ceuta’s healthcare services are under strain, as Enrique Roviralta, the head of the medical board, highlighted the exhausted healthcare workers, outbreaks of diseases like infectious diarrhea and scabies, and a rise in violence-related injuries.
Health Minister Monica Garcia denied claims that local health services had collapsed but acknowledged the pressure they are under. She emphasized that associating migration with illness is unjust and xenophobic, noting a moderate risk of epidemic outbreaks among migrants and a low risk for residents.
Many of the Moroccan migrants interviewed cited poor working conditions in their home country as their primary motivation for seeking asylum. Mohammed Ouanzar, an automation specialist, explained the financial struggles in Morocco that led him to risk the journey to Spain, emphasizing a desire for a better life. Other migrants, like Emmanuel from Nigeria, shared stories of fleeing conflict and risking perilous journeys to provide a better future for their families.
Individuals from various countries, such as Mohammad Ismail Hossain from Bangladesh and Ousmane from Senegal, also shared their challenging experiences and reasons for seeking asylum in Ceuta, highlighting the hardships faced during their journeys and the uncertainty of their future.