Ceuta, two months after the crossing: a city still under strain
Tens of thousands crossed from Morocco in a day. Most returned — but thousands remain, and the crisis has become Europe's border argument.
After the July 30 surge into the Spanish enclave, about 5,000 migrants remain in Ceuta, Madrid has committed €309 million, and several EU governments are questioning Spain's border control.
On July 30, tens of thousands of people crossed from Morocco into Ceuta, the Spanish enclave on the North African coast. Estimates vary: Ceuta's local government spoke of as many as 60,000 people over two days, while later reporting has put the figure near 80,000.
Most did not stay. Within days more than 48,000 had returned to Morocco, many citing a lack of food and shelter. The crossing was also deadly: Spanish authorities recovered 57 bodies on their side of the border.
Two months on, roughly 5,000 migrants remain, many sleeping outdoors on beaches and hillsides. Madrid has allocated €309 million, expanded temporary housing and sped up asylum processing, while saying most arrivals will not qualify for protection and will be returned. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called the surge a violation of Spain's territorial sovereignty; the government has blamed trafficking networks.
The crisis has spread well beyond the city. Italy reinstated internal border controls, Germany's Friedrich Merz told Spain it must regain control of the city, and Finland and Denmark raised the prospect of limiting Spain's free-travel access. Residents in Ceuta have held daily protests, and unemployment in the city stands at 22.2%.
Sources: ABC News (Australia), The Christian Science Monitor, TIME, Al Jazeera.
Source: csmonitor.com
