Ceuta's President Calls Situation of Unaccompanied Minors 'Absolutely Critical'

Juan Jesús Vivas said on Spanish television Wednesday that Ceuta has "no additional space" and is under "very strong pressure" to accommodate around 1,100 minors, according to reports. Regional prefect Miguel Ángel Pérez Triano said police have registered 528 minors so far, who were then transferred to reception facilities. Save the Children warned Monday that about 1,000 minors are currently being cared for in Ceuta, far exceeding the system's capacity of about 100 places.

Vivas appealed to mainland Spain for help, saying, Ceuta is in an extremely precarious situation, and we are calling for help. Spanish law requires other regions to share responsibility for minors from heavily affected areas, but this faces resistance from regions governed by the opposition conservative Popular Party, sometimes with the far-right Vox party. The Spanish government said around 72,000 people reached Ceuta last week, many by swimming, with most having since returned to Morocco. About 2,000 migrants remained in Ceuta as of Tuesday, and at least 80 people have died, according to Spanish authorities.