Hundreds of migrants relocated to temporary shelters following Ceuta border crisis

Spanish police cleared a large number of migrants who had been residing on Trampolín beach and Loma Colmenar in Ceuta, relocating them to temporary reception centers established by the government following a recent increase in arrivals from neighboring Morocco. The operation commenced around 7am on Thursday, with National Police and Guardia Civil officers moving individuals to two sites at Loma Margarita and El Embolsamiento, in coordination with Ceuta's regional government.

Approximately 1,500 people were transferred from the beach area, although sources cited by Spanish public broadcaster RTVE reported up to 4,000 individuals were cleared from the beach. The evacuation concluded just before 10:30am and proceeded without incident. However, some groups reportedly remained near the beach, while others were uncertain about their next destination.

Minister for Inclusion, Social Security and Migration Elma Saiz, who visited Ceuta on Thursday and met with representatives from NGO Médicos del Mundo, stated that the two reception sites have space for around 1,800 people. Loma Margarita is a newly constructed facility, with further expansion efforts underway to accommodate the thousands of migrants who entered Ceuta through the Tarajal border from Morocco on July 30 and 31.

The primary objective of the operation is to offer alternative accommodation and safe reception conditions for those who previously slept on the streets or beach, providing access to well-maintained reception facilities. Authorities emphasized that the transfer would be carried out orderly and safely, with state security forces collaborating with the Ceuta government.

The two locations utilized on Thursday are part of a broader expansion of emergency accommodation agreed upon between Spain's central government and Ceuta's authorities. Other potential sites for temporary reception facilities include the Hípica installations, the former football pitch at Caballería barracks, and an area called El Guano.

Minister Saiz mentioned ongoing preparations for the remaining sites and indicated that additional accommodation spaces could reach up to 4,000 once all four humanitarian reception facilities are operational. These measures represent an extraordinary government response to the exceptional pressure placed on Ceuta by recent arrivals.

Non-governmental organizations such as Engloba and ACCEM are also participating in the emergency operation, which aims to provide more suitable temporary accommodation while assessing each migrant's individual circumstances, potentially including asylum applications, identification procedures, or eventual return. However, questions remain regarding the fate of those unable to be accommodated in the new facilities and the situation for Moroccan nationals who do not qualify for asylum based solely on their country of origin.

The government has pledged to continue working with Ceuta authorities to implement additional reception capacity as the emergency response progresses.