Between 7,000 and 9,000 migrants are believed to remain in Ceuta, nearly two weeks after about 72,000 people crossed from Morocco into the Spanish enclave in one of Europe’s largest recent border surges.
Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said authorities had identified 1,898 minors among those remaining in the territory, although aid organisations believe thousands of children may still be unregistered.
The updated figures underline the scale of the humanitarian and administrative challenge facing Ceuta, a Spanish territory of about 84,000 people located on Africa’s northern coast.
Most of those who crossed during the late-July surge subsequently returned or were sent back to Morocco. However, the number still in Ceuta remains disputed.
The Spanish government estimates that between 7,000 and 9,000 migrants may still be present, while Ceuta’s mayor, Juan Jesús Vivas, has previously suggested that the figure could be as high as 11,000.
