Morocco arrests nearly 300 migrants near Ceuta amid renewed crossing fears
Scores of would-be migrants, most of them from sub-Saharan Africa, were intercepted in northern Morocco near the border with the Spanish exclave of Ceuta on Saturday, two weeks after tens of thousands of people attempted to enter the territory.
A crowd of migrants in Spain's Ceuta enclave gathered on a nearby beach to demand asylum and improved living conditions on Sunday, following a recent surge in arrivals from Morocco. City services and health facilities are struggling to cope with the influx, which saw over 72,000 migrants cross the border in the past two weeks, despite Ceuta's population of about 80,000.
Protesters waved Spanish flags and held signs pleading not to be sent back to Morocco, asserting they are human beings in need of a solution. Some migrants camp on El Trampolín beach or on the outskirts of Ceuta, enduring harsh conditions and foul odors while being denied access to the city center by security forces.
Healthcare workers are overwhelmed by the influx, with outbreaks of diseases like diarrhea and scabies, and rising violence-related injuries. Health Minister Monica Garcia acknowledged the strain on services but dismissed claims they are collapsing, emphasizing the risk of epidemics among migrants remains low. Most migrants, including an automation specialist from Morocco and an electrician from Nigeria, cite poor working conditions and lack of prospects in Morocco as their motivation to leave their homes.
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