Spanish police began moving migrants off the beaches of Ceuta, a Spanish territory on the North African coast, into a tented camp in the port area on Friday, with crowds competing for places at the 1,700-capacity site. BBC World, citing the Spanish government-owned news agency Efe, reported the operation started at about 07:00 local time (05:00 GMT); The Straits Times reported it began shortly before 7 a.m. local time (0500 GMT) and involved riot police and the Spanish military; Arab News, citing a Spanish government source in Ceuta, said the rounding-up began at 6:30 am (0430 GMT). BBC World, citing Efe, said more than 3,000 migrants were being transferred and that more than 170 police officers, including drone technicians, were deployed, while Arab News reported that hundreds were moved and that by noon all places at the new camp had been taken and the transfer had wrapped up. Officers struggled to contain crowds, shots were heard and there were reports that police fired into the air, according to BBC World; The Straits Times reported that police fired rubber bullets into the air and struck several people with batons before the situation calmed.
Spanish police move migrants off Ceuta beaches into tented port camp
Spanish police began moving migrants off the beaches of Ceuta, a Spanish territory on the North African coast, into a tented camp in the port area on Friday, with crowds competing for places at the 1,700-capacity site. BBC World, citing the Spanish government-owned news agency Efe, reported the operation started at about 07:00 local time (05:00 GMT); The Straits Times reported it began shortly before 7 a.m. local time (0500 GMT) and involved riot police and the Spanish military; Arab News, citing a Spanish government source in Ceuta, said the rounding-up began at 6:30 am (0430 GMT). BBC World, citing Efe, said more than 3,000 migrants were being transferred and that more than 170 police officers, including drone technicians, were deployed, while Arab News reported that hundreds were moved and that by noon all places at the new camp had been taken and the transfer had wrapped up. Officers struggled to contain crowds, shots were heard and there were reports that police fired into the air, according to BBC World; The Straits Times reported that police fired rubber bullets into the air and struck several people with batons before the situation calmed.
More than 72,000 migrants crossed into Ceuta from Morocco in the influx at the end of July, an unprecedented border rush, and most later returned, according to the sources. Arab News said the crossings occurred on July 30 and 31, that the surge left scores dead and sparked European Union infighting over immigration, and that most returned in the following hours while thousands remained sleeping in the streets or in makeshift tents. Ceuta covers 18.5 sq km (7.2 sq miles) and has 84,000 residents, according to Arab News.
BBC World reported that some migrants broke through a cordon along the designated 2km (1.2 mile) route to the port, and video showed young men running in the darkness as police tried to maintain control; Efe reported the situation was later brought under control quickly and the operation continued. The Straits Times reported tussles broke out as migrants competed for limited places and that footage later showed mostly adult men walking in small groups under police escort along a route of just over 1 km (0.6 miles) from El Trampolin beach to the port, adding that the vast majority of migrants are men and boys and that the temporary housing is built only for adult men, so minors are being housed separately. Arab News, citing a government source, said the enclave's total temporary accommodation capacity is now 6,000 people.
Estimates of how many migrants remain in Ceuta differ. Ceuta's authorities have estimated that 13,000 remain, while the Spanish central government says the figure is lower, according to BBC World and Arab News. The Straits Times reported that Spain estimates 10,000 migrants remain in the territory.
Three NGO leaders told Reuters, as reported by The Straits Times, that authorities had been too slow to provide migrants with the minimum shelter required under the European migration pact, and that 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 Ceuta's beaches and pavements, meaning the new centre would not be sufficient to clear makeshift camps in public areas, and two NGO leaders said officials probably expect most migrants to return voluntarily to Morocco, according to The Straits Times.
BBC World reported that since the influx residents of the territory have expressed safety concerns, and that some destroyed shelters and blocked aid being supplied to migrants. Arab News reported near-daily protests calling for a return to normality, some drawing support from far-right groups, with residents accusing the government of abandoning them during a humanitarian crisis, and reported isolated episodes of violence including fights between migrants, the stoning of a military patrol and reports of sexual assault.
The transfer went ahead despite opposition from the conservative local authority, according to Arab News. BBC World reported that Ceuta's Mayor Juan Jesus Vivas told lawmakers in the European Parliament earlier this month that migrants had turned Ceuta into a "pressure cooker". Arab News reported that digital transformation minister Oscar Lopez said on Friday that the move was "a key step" and would help authorities process cases more quickly and ease pressure on public spaces.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has faced strong criticism over his handling of the crisis, according to all three sources. BBC World reported that the opposition accused Sanchez of knowing about the influx in advance, that Sanchez insisted it was impossible to predict, and that according to government documents its intelligence services had warned of social media calls for a mass crossing the day before the events; Sanchez has blamed trafficking gangs and said the crisis was sparked by hoaxes and rumours spread on social media, describing Ceuta as both a humanitarian crisis and an administrative challenge within the city.
Arab News reported that Madrid said last week that more than 5,300 of the migrants who remained in Ceuta after July's influx had returned to Morocco within a month, that the government must identify those who remain to check asylum entitlement while unaccompanied children cannot be summarily deported, that Sanchez is also in dispute with Italy, which temporarily reimposed border controls, and that the row has become entwined with Spain's political debate over migration ahead of next year's election, with doubts raised about what the government knew beforehand and the possible role of Morocco.
Where sources differ
- The number of migrants still in Ceuta: BBC World and Arab News report that Ceuta's authorities estimate 13,000 remain while the Spanish central government says the figure is lower; The Straits Times reports that Spain estimates 10,000 remain.
- The start time of Friday's operation: BBC World, citing Efe, says about 07:00 local time (05:00 GMT); The Straits Times says shortly before 7 a.m. local time (0500 GMT); Arab News, citing a Spanish government source, says 6:30 am (0430 GMT).
- The number of migrants moved: BBC World, citing Efe, says more than 3,000 were being transferred; Arab News says hundreds were moved.
- The length of the route to the port: BBC World says 2km (1.2 miles); The Straits Times says just over 1 km (0.6 miles).
- The status of the operation by midday: Arab News reports that by noon all places at the new camp had been taken and the transfer operation had wrapped up; BBC World reports that several hundred migrants had reached the camp, the situation was brought under control and the operation was able to continue.
- No source establishes casualty figures, identities or circumstances of any deaths; only Arab News refers to the surge having left "scores dead" and only BBC World quotes an opposition claim about "those who died".
- The exact number of migrants remaining in Ceuta is not established, with authorities themselves reported as giving conflicting or unspecified figures.
- The Moroccan government's position, role or response to the crossings and to questions about its possible role is not given in any source.
- No migrants in Ceuta are quoted or given a chance to describe their circumstances, intentions or treatment.
- The Italian government's rationale for temporarily reimposing border controls is not given, beyond Arab News noting the dispute.
- Whether or how asylum claims will be decided, and the outcome for unaccompanied minors, is not established.
- No source establishes what happened to the migrants already living on Ceuta's beaches and pavements who could not secure a place at the 1,700-capacity camp.
- The content or findings of the government documents on pre-influx intelligence warnings are not detailed in the sources.
- BBC World — original — by Tinshui Yeung
- The Straits Times — by The Straits Times
- Arab News — by AFP
Read the original at BBC World