Ceuta Braces for New Migrant Surge Amid Riots and Strain on Services

Ceuta is anticipating another significant influx of migrants on Wednesday, weeks after an estimated 80,000 people crossed the border from Morocco into the Spanish enclave. Social media platforms are circulating calls for migrants to enter Ceuta on the same day as elections are being held in Morocco, adding to existing tensions.

Tensions have been high in the city, which is geographically located in North Africa but is a Spanish territory. On Sunday, thousands of Ceuta residents marched to the Moroccan border in protest. Concurrently, police were deployed to quell a riot at the Loma Colmenar detention center.

Footage shared by local media depicted a riot van positioned behind police officers in riot gear, facing a crowd of individuals identified as migrants. An alarm from the riot van appeared to serve as a warning. Police were also called to a makeshift shelter in Loma Colmenar following complaints from neighbors, where they found a large number of migrants, including minors. Local reports indicated that up to 20 people were living in the property.

Spain's Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares stated that Madrid is actively working to counter calls within Morocco that encourage new border crossings. Despite these efforts, the city is preparing for another potential surge.

Around July 30, approximately 80,000 individuals entered Ceuta illegally, many swimming from the Moroccan coast around the Tarajal breakwater. While many have since left, an estimated 15,000 are believed to still be in Ceuta illegally. In the preceding week, thousands of migrants navigated the enclave's streets as authorities attempted to relocate them to a new tent camp. Police faced difficulties managing the crowds that jostled for space at the new site, which authorities stated has capacity for 1,700 individuals. Video evidence shows people rushing towards the camp, cheering and shouting.

National Police and Riot Control Units reportedly intervened, using tear gas to manage the situation. Following this incident, a 500-meter inflatable barrier was erected along the seawall border to deter further crossings, but it has since been damaged by strong winds.

The strain on public services is also becoming apparent. CEMSATSE, a union representing health workers in Ceuta, has called for a strike on Thursday, the day after the potential new surge is anticipated. The union asserts that the health system has exceeded its capacity and criticizes Madrid for not acknowledging an emergency. National Health Minister Mónica García has denied a crisis in Ceuta's health system, stating the city's sole hospital was operating at 53 percent capacity. She has previously characterized fears that migrants could spread disease as xenophobic, arguing instead that "Migrants do not bring diseases, they contract them here because of poor conditions."