Ryan (pseudonym) has hidden his homosexuality in Morocco for years, for fear of facing discrimination or threats. He is one of the around 1,000 migrants who massively entered Ceuta on May 17 and 18. Last week, he went to the asylum office in the autonomous city to apply for international protection.
The 3,000 Moroccans, including nearly 1,000 minors, who remain stranded in Ceuta , cost the city authorities 3 million euros per month in terms of accommodation and assistance. This was announced on Thursday by Juan Vivas, the President of the Ceuta Executive.
Dina El Yassini Haidour is one of the migrants who arrived en masse in Ceuta between May 17 and 19. A month after this collective attempt that triggered a migration crisis between Morocco and Spain, the young Moroccan is still blocked in the autonomous city. Her family is in despair.
In contrast to the Popular Party (PP) which calls on the Spanish government to restore diplomatic relations with Morocco and adopt measures to limit the massive influx of migrants, the far-right party Vox is demanding sanctions against Morocco before any resumption of relations.
The Secretary General of Vox, Javier Ortega Smith, made, from the Plaza España in Melilla, a statement of support for Ceuta and Melilla, promising "the protection of the borders of the two cities against the threats of Morocco".
The poor reception and unsanitary conditions of migrant centers expose them to various diseases and psychological problems. This is revealed in a report published Tuesday by Médecins du Monde.
Spain is taking drastic measures to secure Ceuta and Melilla in the face of Morocco’s threat to recover the two autonomous cities. The Sanchez government is considering, among other things, requesting the presence of Frontex, the European border agency, in the two enclaves.
In reaction to the European Parliament’s vote on the resolution sanctioning it for allowing a massive influx of underage migrants into Ceuta on May 17 and 18, Morocco is reportedly threatening to break its bilateral agreements with the European Union (EU), including the fishing agreements.
Spain is not about to recognize Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara. It fears that the kingdom will claim Ceuta and Melilla.
After allowing thousands of migrants to enter Ceuta in May, Morocco would consider turning a blind eye to border control again to trigger a new mass entry of migrants into Spain through the Strait of Gibraltar.
The new juvenile judge, Eduardo Esteban, has denounced the poor conditions of the migrant minors who arrived in mass in Ceuta on May 17 and 18. A situation that has "always existed", but is becoming increasingly worrying.
Several hundred Moroccan minors continue to wander the streets of Ceuta, nearly a month after the migration crisis occurred. In total, 900 minors are taken care of in the centers opened by the local authorities.