Ceuta. Social media videos, economic hardship and hopes for a better future have driven thousands of migrants to attempt crossing into Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta in the largest surge recorded in recent years.
For 16-year-old Moroccan Ayoub El Abyad, the decision began with videos he watched on Instagram showing migrants making their way into Ceuta. Together with his cousin, who was still 12 hours away from the border, he decided to take the risk.
“Migration is about improving our lives. We agreed we would try the idea of crossing and trust in Allah,” Mr El Abyad told Reuters near the Moroccan side of the border after completing the journey by hitching rides with two drivers.
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