The European Union has allocated approximately €115 million to Spain as emergency assistance to help manage the migrant crisis in Ceuta. This funding comes after a significant influx of migrants from Morocco at the end of July, according to reports from AFP.
This support will be utilized to enhance border surveillance, purchase equipment such as thermal cameras, and deploy additional personnel, the European Commission announced.
The total aid of €114.7 million aims not only to assist in the expulsion of individuals illegally residing in Ceuta but also to strengthen the capacity to accommodate unaccompanied minors in the Spanish enclave, according to the Commission.
Over 70,000 migrants have crossed the border between Morocco and the Spanish territory of Ceuta, located in North Africa, which is one of the two land borders of the European Union (EU) with Africa. This overwhelming influx has resulted in dozens of deaths and disappearances.
The other EU border with Africa is situated in another Spanish territory, Melilla.
While most migrants have subsequently returned, several thousand—between 5,000 according to the Spanish government and 10,000 according to local authorities in Ceuta—remain in the enclave, often sleeping on the streets or beaches.
The president of the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, Juan Jesús Vivas, requested EU assistance on Tuesday. Vivas, a member of the opposition Popular Party (PP), has accused Morocco of being behind this massive influx of migrants “by action or omission.”
However, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez assured that no solid evidence has been presented to the Spanish government indicating that Morocco orchestrated this migrant surge. Nonetheless, suspicions regarding Morocco’s role have intensified following the release of a police report highlighting the “permissiveness” of security forces in response to the crisis.
On Monday, Spanish justice authorities launched an investigation into the migration crisis based on this police report.
