70,000 Moroccan migrants return after ‘lack of food, shelter’ in Ceuta, Spain
Spain is reinforcing its border at Ceuta after it was overwhelmed after a mass migration event where an estimated 69,000 Moroccan migrants entered the country in a mass migration
Spain is reinforcing its border at Ceuta following a mass migration event where an estimated 69,000 Moroccan migrants entered the Spanish enclave, many of whom have since departed. The situation has prompted Italy to suspend Spain's participation in the Schengen agreement due to the border security challenges. New containment barriers are being erected at the Tarajal Border Breakwater, and the Spanish Supreme Court's ruling on migrants entering by swimming is seen as a contributing factor to the influx, alongside social media organization and internal issues within Morocco.
Spain is reinforcing its border at Ceuta following a mass migration event where an estimated 69,000 Moroccan migrants entered the Spanish enclave, many of whom have since departed. The situation has prompted Italy to suspend Spain's participation in the Schengen agreement due to the border security challenges. New containment barriers are being erected at the Tarajal Border Breakwater, and the Spanish Supreme Court's ruling on migrants entering by swimming is seen as a contributing factor to the influx, alongside social media organization and internal issues within Morocco.
Spain is reinforcing its border at Ceuta following a mass migration event where an estimated 69,000 Moroccan migrants entered the Spanish enclave, many of whom have since departed. The situation has prompted Italy to suspend Spain's participation in the Schengen agreement due to the border security challenges. New containment barriers are being erected at the Tarajal Border Breakwater, and the Spanish Supreme Court's ruling on migrants entering by swimming is seen as a contributing factor to the influx, alongside social media organization and internal issues within Morocco.
Spain’s state Security forces say that about 69,000 migrants who arrived in a mass entry on Thursday have left Ceuta and returned to Morocco. The authorities have also placed containment barriers to be installed on the Taraja Border Breakwater.
At least 67 people died in just 24 hours after the Moroccan migrants attempted to mass migrate to Ceuta.
To reach Ceuta, the migrants had swum for at least 10 kilometres. They also encountered authorities who tried to stop them in Morocco using tear gas, water cannons and warning shots.
On the Spanish side, they were greeted with military vehicles positioned on sections of the border.
According to one migrant, they returned as they were unable to find food or shelter.
Meanwhile, Spain has been facing diplomatic pressure from both France and Italy; Italy officially suspended its Schengen agreement with Spain on Saturday for one month due to the mass crossing.
The Schengen agreement allows the free movement of citizens between all of the EU’s 27 member states.
It also technically includes Spain's exclaves situated in North Africa, Ceuta and Melilla,
The Government of Spain has now stated that the entry of migrants from Morocco has completely stopped.
And that containment barriers were being placed at the Tarajal Breakwater. The barrier is 500 meter long Pneumatic barrier with a surface height of 30 to 70 centimetres. It is submerged upt ot meter deep. It is a part of a structure that is connected to a line of anchored Buoys by the navy.
The government has said that Spain’s new Supreme Court ruling, which states that migrants cannot be turned away at the border when they swim into Spanish territory without having crossed any physical barrier. Has served as an incentive promoting this method of entry into the country.
Local media reports say that teh migrant use Telegram and other social media to organise the mass migration.
Morocco’s internal issues such as corruption and widespread poverty also contribute as incentives for the migration.