Spain has announced the installation of a 500-meter containment barrier on the sea border between Ceuta and Morocco. This measure follows an incident where between 50,000 and 60,000 migrants breached the frontier earlier this week.
The death toll has reached 67, including deaths by drowning and others during a stampede to cross a barrier.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez criticized some European Union leaders for suggesting Spain’s suspension from the Schengen zone, attributing these calls to prejudice and misinformation.
Meanwhile, a few migrants who managed to reach Ceuta’s Tarajal beach were escorted back to Morocco by soldiers. The interior ministry indicates that most migrants have already returned.
Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska assured that Spain is tough on lawbreakers. He stressed the importance of evaluating the situation with both Spain and Morocco, appreciating the cooperation that helped revert the situation.
EU leaders from 22 countries have requested a coordinated response to illegal migrant crossings. A letter from the Danish prime minister’s office called for an extraordinary meeting of EU interior ministers to address these issues.
The letter, signed by leaders from various EU countries, warned against perceived opportunities for illegal entry and its potential impact on Europe’s common migration policy.
Sánchez urged for a joint response among EU nations, criticizing the temporary exclusion calls by some states. He emphasized the security responsibility shared among all Member States.
Amid these developments, hundreds of migrants returned to Morocco voluntarily, citing poor treatment in Ceuta. Many described hardship and the struggle to find food and shelter.
Migrants shared experiences of sleeping in forests and fighting for food. Some were asking for means to contact their families for financial aid.
The road linking Fnideq in Morocco to Ceuta showed signs of unrest. Burned vehicles lined the roads, and water cannons remained deployed nearby.
Life in Ceuta has been disrupted following the border incident, said President Juan Jesús Vivas, noting that return processes have begun satisfactorily.
In Tangier, Morocco, people exhaustingly returned from Ceuta. Some intend to stay in Ceuta, despite obstacles, determined to improve their circumstances.
Migrants expressed defiance, citing closure of resources as an attempt to force them back. Their resolve to stay remains, even amidst hardships.