Children in a strange land: the plight of the 1,000 minor migrants still in Spain’s Ceuta

Ceuta, a Spanish enclave on the north African coast, has become the epicenter of a European migration crisis, with the dead recovered from the waters off the city. The vast majority of migrants who forcibly crossed into Spain have returned to Morocco. However, an estimated 1,000 minors, the most vulnerable among those who crossed the border, remain in Ceuta, separated from their families and living as beggars on the streets.

One such girl, aged 17, recounted how she witnessed her 8-year-old brother drown during the chaotic crossing, now separated from her mother and begging on the streets. Spain’s Interior Minister initially estimated that around 72,000 migrants crossed into Ceuta last week, with 70,000 of them returning. However, local officials believe the number of unaccompanied minors still in the city could be closer to 3,000-5,000.

The Spanish government has increased the death toll to 75, with Morocco reporting 11, figures not included in the Spanish total. Many migrants were driven by social media hype to attempt a dangerous and illegal crossing to Spain, seeking better opportunities, but few were able to reach mainland Europe or find accommodation in Ceuta.