18 killed trying to breach Morocco border, army sent: Spain migrant crisis explained
Ceuta is a small autonomous Spanish city on the northern coast of Africa. For many migrants hoping to reach Europe, Ceuta offers one of the
Ceuta is a small autonomous Spanish city on the northern coast of Africa. For many migrants hoping to reach Europe, Ceuta offers one of the shortest routes onto EU territory. Ceuta is a small autonomous Spanish city on the northern coast of Africa. For many migrants hoping to reach Europe, Ceuta offers one of the shortest routes onto EU territory. Ceuta is a small autonomous Spanish city on the northern coast of Africa. 1 2 Ceuta migrant crisis explained in 10 points Where is Ceuta? Why is Ceuta a migration hotspot? What happened this week? Why have so many people died? Why has Spain deployed the military? Why are Spain and Morocco often at odds over Ceuta? What caused this latest surge? Why has the crisis become a political issue? Why is Europe watching closely? Why does Ceuta matter beyond this crisis? Spain has deployed its armed forces to the North African enclave of Ceuta after thousand migrants crossed into the territory from neighbouring Morocco in one of the largest border breaches in recent years. The Spanish interior ministry has said that over 49,000 people have crossed into Ceuta in last 24 hours. The surge has overwhelmed local authorities, stretched reception centres and reignited debate over migration, border security and Spain's ties with Morocco.At least 18 people have died while attempting to reach the Spanish territory, most of them drowning as they tried to swim around the border barriers. Spanish authorities have sent military reinforcements, while the European Union has offered support to help restore order at the frontier.The latest influx has also sparked political tensions beyond Spain.
Italy has raised the possibility of "extraordinary measures" over concerns about Europe's external borders, while Spanish officials have accused some European politicians of exploiting the crisis for political gain.Ceuta is a small autonomous Spanish city on the northern coast of Africa. It sits on a si mile-long peninsula bordering Morocco, just across the Strait of Gibraltar from mainland Spain.Together with Melilla, another Spanish territory further east, Ceuta forms the European Union's only land border with Africa. Although it has been under Spanish control since 1580, Morocco does not recognise Spanish sovereignty over either enclave and considers them occupied territories.For many migrants hoping to reach Europe, Ceuta offers one of the shortest routes onto EU territory.People attempting the crossing often swim around the border fences from nearby Moroccan towns such as Fnideq and Belyounech. Others try to climb or cut through the double-layered border fence, despite surveillance systems, patrols and security barriers.Migrants who enter Ceuta can seek asylum in Spain, although many are immediately returned to Morocco under bilateral agreements.The number of attempted crossings had been increasing for several days before thousands of migrants entered Ceuta on Thursday.Many swam around the breakwaters separating Morocco from the Spanish enclave, while others reached local beaches using inflatable rings and flippers. Images from the area showed crowds, mostly young men but also women and children, arriving on foot after reaching Spanish territory.Authorities estimate that between 2,000 and 3,000 people crossed into Ceuta during the day, although officials have not confirmed an exact figure.The crossing is extremely dangerous despite the relatively short distance.At least 19 migrants died while attempting to reach Ceuta, with most believed to have drowned.
The BriefWire