Thousands of migrants are still in Spain's North African territory of Ceuta days after an unprecedented mass crossing from Morocco, with the enclave's leader warning the humanitarian and security situation has not returned to normal.
Juan Jesús Vivas told the European Parliament on Thursday that between 3,000 and 5,000 migrants remain in Ceuta after roughly 78,000 people arrived by sea over the course of just a few hours last week. He said nearly 75,000 have since been returned to Morocco, but the territory is still under strain.
Vivas also said about 100 people died during the crossings, describing the incident as an "irreparable tragedy."
Addressing lawmakers, Vivas criticized Spain's leftist government, saying he had warned Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez that the response came too late, reports the BBC.
"The fact that we don't have numbers on how many are still in Ceuta shows how few resources we have to deal with this situation," Vivas said.
He added that local officials had repeatedly warned of an increase in migrant crossings before the influx but those warnings were ignored.
Vivas said Ceuta continues to face a humanitarian emergency and public order problems, adding that it is "basically impossible" to return unaccompanied minors because doing so requires their consent.
Spain's interior minister has announced €25 million in funding to help care for migrant minors in Ceuta. However, Spanish newspaper El Mundo reported that volunteer organizations have registered 4,860 migrant children in the territory, roughly double official estimates.
"Neighbours are taking them into their homes, but the situation is unsustainable," one volunteer told the newspaper.
The Spanish government has deployed armed forces to both Ceuta and the nearby enclave of Melilla. The European Commission praised Spain's "swift response," even as the crisis has fueled criticism of Madrid and tensions among European Union countries.
Italy temporarily suspended its Schengen arrangements with Spain, with support from Finland and Denmark, while the Czech Republic called for Spain's Schengen membership to be temporarily suspended, despite Sánchez noting that Ceuta is not part of the Schengen Area.
The cause of the mass crossings remains disputed. EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner said criminal smuggling networks spreading online disinformation likely played a role, a view echoed by Sánchez. Moroccan officials, meanwhile, blamed a recent Spanish Supreme Court ruling limiting the immediate return of migrants intercepted at sea.
Moroccan media has also reported fresh calls circulating on social media encouraging another large-scale attempt to cross into Ceuta, despite government warnings that promoting illegal migration could result in prosecution.
Juan Jesús Vivas told the European Parliament on Thursday that between 3,000 and 5,000 migrants remain in Ceuta after roughly 78,000 people arrived by sea over the course of just a few hours last week. He said nearly 75,000 have since been returned to Morocco, but the territory is still under strain.
Vivas also said about 100 people died during the crossings, describing the incident as an "irreparable tragedy."
Addressing lawmakers, Vivas criticized Spain's leftist government, saying he had warned Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez that the response came too late, reports the BBC.
"The fact that we don't have numbers on how many are still in Ceuta shows how few resources we have to deal with this situation," Vivas said.
He added that local officials had repeatedly warned of an increase in migrant crossings before the influx but those warnings were ignored.
Vivas said Ceuta continues to face a humanitarian emergency and public order problems, adding that it is "basically impossible" to return unaccompanied minors because doing so requires their consent.
Spain's interior minister has announced €25 million in funding to help care for migrant minors in Ceuta. However, Spanish newspaper El Mundo reported that volunteer organizations have registered 4,860 migrant children in the territory, roughly double official estimates.
"Neighbours are taking them into their homes, but the situation is unsustainable," one volunteer told the newspaper.
The Spanish government has deployed armed forces to both Ceuta and the nearby enclave of Melilla. The European Commission praised Spain's "swift response," even as the crisis has fueled criticism of Madrid and tensions among European Union countries.
Italy temporarily suspended its Schengen arrangements with Spain, with support from Finland and Denmark, while the Czech Republic called for Spain's Schengen membership to be temporarily suspended, despite Sánchez noting that Ceuta is not part of the Schengen Area.
The cause of the mass crossings remains disputed. EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner said criminal smuggling networks spreading online disinformation likely played a role, a view echoed by Sánchez. Moroccan officials, meanwhile, blamed a recent Spanish Supreme Court ruling limiting the immediate return of migrants intercepted at sea.
Moroccan media has also reported fresh calls circulating on social media encouraging another large-scale attempt to cross into Ceuta, despite government warnings that promoting illegal migration could result in prosecution.
