Spain announced Thursday it will build shelters for 1,800 migrants in its North African enclave Ceuta to ease a humanitarian crisis following last month’s influx from Morocco.
Some 72,000 migrants breached the border in an unprecedented and deadly rush into the north African territory on July 30-31, with 70,000 having since returned to Morocco, according to Spanish government figures.
But the thousands who remain, including unaccompanied children who cannot be summarily deported, are struggling to access food, water, shelter and sanitation while the tiny city's resources are overwhelmed.
Many have spent the past three weeks sleeping on the streets or on the beach, with non-governmental organizations (NGO) warning that women and girls are particularly vulnerable.
Locals have complained about insecurity and hygiene problems linked to the homeless migrants roaming the streets, accusing the government of neglecting Ceuta.
