New Delhi: Thousands of Moroccan migrants entered Ceuta, a small North African enclave under Spanish control, Thursday. The Spanish government deployed troops to strengthen security in the region following appeals from local officials, overwhelmed by the influx of migrants.
Spanish state-owned broadcaster TVE estimated that between 2,000 and 3,000 migrants entered the enclave within a matter of hours Thursday, with over a dozen people reportedly drowning in their efforts to swim and enter.Though the number of migrants entering Ceuta has been rising throughout the past week, the cause behind the immense and sudden stream Thursday remains unclear.
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has said armed forces will assist the country’s Civil Guard in securing the enclave.“We are mobilizing all necessary resources, working with Moroccan and international authorities, and preparing the necessary measures to restore normalcy as soon as possible,” Sánchez wrote in a post on X.Madrid has also sent additional police officers, naval and aerial support, and military diving teams to patrol the surrounding waters. Moroccan authorities have employed water cannons and riot-control equipment to discourage further crossings.Spain has emphasised that it is coordinating with Rabat to restore control at the border. Sánchez and Interior Minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, are expected to visit Ceuta Friday.Why migrants are swimming to Ceuta
