Ceuta calculates that it will have to take care of more than a thousand migrant children and is preparing two large facilities

The city of Ceuta, located on Spain’s northernmost tip near Morocco, is grappling with a surge in unaccompanied migrant minors following a mass influx over the weekend. Authorities estimate they will need to accommodate more than 1,000 children, prompting emergency preparations to expand shelter capacity. The local government has begun converting two existing structures, one industrial building and another warehouse, into temporary housing for the growing number of young migrants who have crossed into Ceuta from Moroccan territory. These efforts come amid reports that some minors remain unaccounted for, still wandering the streets of the city. The situation escalated sharply after thousands of migrants entered Ceuta on July 30 and 31, many arriving via water crossings along the border with Morocco. According to local officials, the city currently shelters 862 unaccompanied minors, though authorities suspect there could be additional children still roaming the streets. They anticipate the number rising toward 1,000 and have requested increased financial support from the Spanish central government to manage the crisis. For now, the children are being housed in existing facilities, which are described as overcrowded. Officials hope to complete the necessary modifications to the new spaces within days, allowing them to provide better conditions for the minors. Alberto Gaitán, the head of the municipal administration responsible for minors, confirmed that the city has been working intensively to ensure these children receive food, clothing, and shelter. He noted that while some younger children have already been relocated to more suitable accommodations, older minors are staying in provisional locations. Efforts continue to locate any remaining children still on the streets, with teams scanning the area systematically. Gaitán emphasized that the city's response has been swift, with services doubling their usual efforts to meet the demand. Ceuta’s handling of this crisis reflects its long-standing experience with waves of migration. Over the past two years, the city has become accustomed to managing large numbers of unaccompanied minors arriving by sea. In 2021, a similar influx saw between 10,000 and 12,000 people enter the region, many of whom were children. That experience has informed current strategies, including the use of a legal mechanism to transfer minors to the mainland under the Real Decreto Ley 2/2025 on childhood and migration. This law modifies the Organic Law on Childhood and Adolescence to facilitate such transfers. According to Gaitán, the city began using this process last September, successfully transferring 655 minors to the mainland. At one point earlier this year, the number of minors in Ceuta had reached 200, but the recent surge has pushed the count to 862. The city’s regular capacity for accommodating minors is set at 29 places, yet the current occupancy rate exceeds 3,000 percent of that figure. This overwhelming demand has forced the local government to seek urgent assistance from the national administration. In the neighborhood of El Príncipe, hundreds of minors remain without formal accommodation, sleeping outdoors and relying on community initiatives for basic necessities. Mohamed, a 14-year-old boy, and his friends Hicham and Fahmi, who arrived from Morocco just days ago, are among those waiting for official recognition and support. Their story highlights the challenges faced by many young migrants who have fled difficult circumstances back home. Some have families unable to care for them due to economic hardship, while others have escaped abusive situations. Local residents and volunteer groups have stepped in to help, distributing food and offering temporary shelter where possible. Ahmed Enfed-dal, president of a neighborhood association, stressed the importance of ensuring that these children are treated according to international standards. He criticized the lack of proper facilities and called for immediate action to protect the rights of the minors. His organization has been registering names and ages of children since Tuesday, aiming to assist authorities in identifying and supporting each individual. The local government has acknowledged the scale of the problem, noting that the number of minors in Ceuta has grown dramatically over the past few weeks. From 213 on July 15 to 1,017 today, the increase underscores the severity of the situation. Of these, around 750 had already arrived before the recent influx, indicating that the system was already stretched beyond its limits. With no clear end in sight, the city continues to prepare for further arrivals, hoping that the newly converted spaces will soon provide adequate relief.