Around 1500 Migrants Arrive in Spanish Ceuta; Authorities Request Military Assistance

An emergency situation has arisen in Ceuta, Spain's exclave, as a large number of migrants from Morocco are arriving in the city. Over the past few days, more than 1500 people have been accepted here. Authorities are sounding the alarm, stating that reception centers are overcrowded, with hundreds of people sleeping outdoors.

This situation follows a ruling by Spain's Supreme Court, which determined that migrants who reach Spanish territory by swimming can no longer be immediately returned to Morocco without individual case assessments. Following this, thousands of migrants have begun arriving via water routes to Spanish territory.

Juan Jesús Vivas, the head of Ceuta's government, has described the situation as dramatic. Shelters are overcrowded, with hundreds of migrants sleeping on sidewalks and in public spaces, while streets and green areas are filled with trash.

The regional government of Ceuta has requested assistance from Spain's armed forces. However, according to El País, Madrid has thus far denied the request. Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's government believes that the migrants do not pose a "national civil protection threat."

The journey to Ceuta is perilously dangerous. To reach the Spanish exclave, people often have to circumvent border structures and swim for hours across the sea, with many relying on inflatable rings. Some migrants lose their lives on the way, while coast guard services and the Red Cross work around the clock.

According to authorities, last year, 60 bodies were found in the coastal area. In recent days, at least four more people have died. Ceuta, located on the northern coast of Africa, has long been considered one of the most sensitive areas of the European Union's external border. The majority of illegal migrants come from Morocco and Algeria. Data from the regional government indicates that the number of unaccompanied minor migrants has doubled in the last two weeks.