Two underage migrants were injured in a knife attack on Thursday during a clash in the La Marina area of Ceuta, highlighting the ongoing violence amid the city’s migration crisis. The National Police intervened, and emergency services treated the two youths for cuts around their ankles.
This incident occurs as Ceuta grapples with the arrival of tens of thousands of migrants and struggles to provide adequate accommodation for those remaining in the city.
Ceuta’s Department of Health has issued a health warning regarding Trampolín beach, where a migrant encampment persists. Water samples taken on 23, 25, and 28 September revealed dangerously high levels of intestinal enterococci and Escherichia coli, exceeding safe limits for coastal waters. Authorities have since erected fencing on Benítez beach to deter further encampments.
Faced with a lack of accommodation, some migrants are resorting to sleeping in garages, cars, and on rooftops, with spaces being rented for around £10 per night in certain areas. Police and the Civil Guard discovered up to 30 individuals, mainly minors, in one home, referred to as a “patera flat,” highlighting unsafe living conditions.
Local residents have expressed frustration, alleging that some are exploiting migrants’ desperate need for shelter.
The UGT-Ceuta union has called for increased resources to maintain public services and support workers amid the influx. The Ombudsman, Ángel Gabilondo, is visiting Ceuta this week to witness the humanitarian situation and will meet with local officials, including Ceuta’s president, Juan Jesús Vivas.
