Migrant children risk abuse on streets of Ceuta, aid groups warn

In the city of Ceuta, hundreds of unaccompanied children are facing severe risks of abuse and exploitation after sleeping on the streets following a mass migrant entry from Morocco a week ago. While most migrants have returned across the border, authorities are struggling to provide shelter for the remaining children due to the city's limited capacity.

Jose Miguel Morales, head of a migrant rights group, reported instances of children being beaten and assaulted on the streets. Girls, particularly those under 14, are particularly vulnerable to violence, trafficking, and exploitation. Save the Children has called for urgent efforts to locate and register all minors, emphasizing the heightened risks they face.

Ceuta's government reported that around 1,100 children are in need of attention, far exceeding the city's capacity of 90 places. The opposition-run city administration claims the number is higher, including over 1,000 unaccompanied minors. Authorities are working to set up emergency facilities in schools and warehouses, but the situation remains unsustainable.

Charities and local residents are providing basic supplies to the children sleeping on the streets, including food and water. The Spanish government allocated €25 million for Ceuta to support unaccompanied minors, but opposition parties have opposed the redistribution of children to other regions in Spain.