Police clear migrants from beaches in Occupied Ceuta as shelter remains limited. Spanish riot police fired rubber bullets into the air and struck several migrants with batons on Friday as authorities launched an operation to clear thousands of migrants from beaches in the North African colony of Occupied Ceuta. The operation, which began shortly before 7 a.m., involved riot police and the Spanish military and aimed to move some migrants into temporary housing.
Spain estimates that around 10,000 migrants remain in Occupied Ceuta after more than 72,000 crossed from Morocco at the end of July, although most later left. Authorities have built temporary housing at the colony’s port with capacity for 1,700 people, while NGOs say thousands remain without shelter and are sleeping in camps. Later footage showed mostly adult men carrying their belongings and walking under police escort along a route of just over 1 km from El Trampolin beach to the port.
Tensions emerged as migrants competed for the limited places available in temporary accommodation. Footage from state broadcaster TVE showed crowding and jostling as people struggled to enter the designated route, followed by police firing rubber bullets into the air and striking several migrants with batons before the situation calmed and the operation resumed. The temporary housing is intended only for adult men, with minors being separated and housed elsewhere.
Three NGO leaders told Reuters that authorities had been too slow to provide the minimum shelter required under the European migration pact, while reception centres opened so far could not accommodate those still sleeping on the streets. One NGO estimated that about 4,000 migrants remained outdoors on the beaches and pavements of Occupied Ceuta.
- Source: Reuters