Humanitarian crisis worsens in Ceuta as thousands remain stranded

Ceuta, a Spanish enclave on the North African coast, continues to host thousands of migrants who arrived in a mass crossing at the end of July. Many live in improvised shelters on beaches and in industrial areas, forming informal camps where basic protection against wind and weather is limited. Aid distribution points, such as a Red Cross food centre, require long daily queues. Local and national authorities give differing tallies of those still in Ceuta: Madrid estimates between 6,000 and 10,000, while municipal officials put the number closer to 13,000. Around 5,000 people—mainly women and children—have been placed in temporary accommodation, but most remain sleeping outdoors. A newly opened shelter with capacity for about 1,700 people reportedly filled within hours of opening. Humanitarian organisations working on the ground warn of inadequate hygiene and medical services outside official camps and report incidents of violence. Mission Lifeline International described immediate risks of assault at night, and volunteers from NGOs including Medicos del Mundo said they have treated migrants with cuts and bruises. Several people interviewed by Al Jazeera alleged they had been beaten by men in military or police uniforms; some said they avoided hospitals out of fear of deportation. Spanish authorities have denied allegations of abuse, stating police action is carried out with respect for human rights. Officials say they are expanding accommodation, and providing food and medical care while migrants are identified and their legal cases processed. The national government has reiterated its intention to return to Morocco those who do not have a legal right to stay, and Ceuta’s leaders have called on Madrid and the European Union for additional assistance as the enclave manages the ongoing humanitarian pressures.