Spain’s North African enclave “is not back to business as usual,” Ceuta’s Mayor-President told EU officials on Thursday (6 August), as his city struggles with the effects of a migration wave as large as the resident count of the city.
The Spanish autonomous territory was shaken by a mass migration arrival from Morocco last week, with over 80,000 people counted by local authorities.
Mayor Juan Jesús Vivas Lara confirmed the return of over 75,000 people across the Moroccan border on Thursday, though an estimated 3000-5000 people still remain in Ceuta.
A group of Ceuta’s residents reportedly conducted an impromptu census, counting over 5000 minors among those left in limbo in the Spanish enclave.
With reception centres overwhelmed by demand and most left to sleep on the streets, locals have taken to helping out with food and clothes.
