Rubber bullets fired as Spain moves migrants from Ceuta beach camps

Spanish riot police employed rubber bullets and baton strikes on Friday as they commenced an operation to remove thousands of migrants from the beaches of Ceuta, a North African Spanish territory, and relocate some of them into temporary housing. The Spanish authorities estimate that around 10,000 migrants are currently residing in Ceuta.

An unprecedented influx of over 72,000 migrants arrived in the enclave from Morocco at the end of July, although most of them have since departed. To accommodate the migrants, the authorities have constructed temporary housing within Ceuta's port, capable of housing 1,700 people. However, NGOs report that thousands of migrants remain without shelter and have been sleeping in makeshift camps on the streets.

The operation to clear the beaches commenced shortly before 7 a.m. local time on Friday, involving both riot police and the Spanish military. Migrants who had spent the night on the beach in anticipation of a place in temporary shelter initially applauded as the march began, but conflicts soon erupted as they vied for the limited number of available spots.

Video footage from state broadcaster TVE depicted crowding and jostling as individuals struggled to enter the designated route. Police resorted to firing rubber bullets into the air and striking several migrants with batons before the situation subsided, allowing the operation to continue. Subsequent footage showed mostly adult men carrying their belongings, walking in small groups under police escort along a route of just over 1 km (0.6 miles) from El Trampolin beach to the port.

The majority of migrants in Ceuta are men and boys. The temporary housing facilities are designed exclusively for adult men, necessitating the separation of minors who are being housed in different facilities. Three NGO leaders expressed to Reuters that the authorities had been sluggish in providing migrants with the minimum shelter stipulated under the European migration pact, and that the reception centers opened so far are insufficient to house those still residing on the streets.

One NGO estimated that approximately 4,000 migrants continue to be outdoors on Ceuta's beaches and pavements, indicating that the new center may not be adequate to clear makeshift camps in public areas. Two NGO leaders suggested that officials likely anticipate most migrants to return voluntarily to Morocco.