Humanitarian Crisis in Ceuta: Activists Criticize Government Response

• On August 20, the Spanish government moved hundreds of migrants into newly established temporary facilities at Loma Margarita and El Embolsamiento.
• Civil society organizations argue that government measures are insufficient and report systemic police violence against migrants.
• The EU emphasizes the protection of minors while simultaneously insisting on the return of all migrants to Morocco.

Government Measures and Limitations

• The Ministry of Inclusion and Migration has expanded capacity to 1,800 places, claiming the situation is normalizing.
• No Name Kitchen (NNK) and other groups state the crisis remains unresolved, noting that the Ceuta Centre for Temporary Stay of Foreigners (CETI) was already overwhelmed prior to the July 30 influx.
• Ceuta’s regional government continues to demand mass returns and has requested increased military presence, with 150 additional troops deployed.

Human Rights Concerns

• Activists report an increase in police violence against migrants, including reports of beatings, intimidation of volunteers, and the use of pepper spray.
• Critical issues persist, including the failure to register minors, the inability to effectively apply for asylum, and chronic shortages of food and basic necessities.
• Organizations are documenting human rights abuses and providing humanitarian aid to those hidden in forests and neighborhoods, as official institutions are accused of abandoning these populations.

Policy Context

• The implementation of the European Pact on Migration and Asylum (PEMA) as of June 12 has led to an increase in rejected asylum claims, particularly for Moroccan citizens.
• Activists argue that the current focus on border security and forced returns exacerbates the crisis, leaving migrants in a state of 'soft apartheid' where they lack access to basic resources.
• Advocates conclude that no viable solution exists within the enclave and that migrants must be transferred to the mainland to ensure their dignity and safety.