Kathmandu— Juan Jesus Vivas, the leader of Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta, testified before the European Parliament that at least 100 people died during recent mass migrant crossings from Morocco. He also reported that between 3,000 and 5,000 migrants remain in the enclave following last week’s surge, which saw approximately 72,000 individuals cross into Ceuta over two days.

Humanitarian Crisis

Vivas described the situation as a humanitarian emergency of enormous proportions. The influx overwhelmed local reception centers for adults and unaccompanied minors, leading to their collapse under the strain. He noted that authorities have not disclosed an exact number due to limited resources.

EU Response

European Union migration commissioner Magnus Brunner assured Brussels that Spain had guaranteed Schengen’s security would remain intact despite the crisis. However, he warned that Europe's border security remains vulnerable as it relies heavily on Morocco's cooperation. "As long as control depends on the goodwill of one neighboring state, we remain vulnerable," Brunner said.

Pre-Crisis Warnings

Vivas stated that local officials had warned Madrid about rising crossing numbers before the surge but their warnings were not acted upon. He also noted that Moroccan authorities refused to engage with Ceuta throughout the crisis, and security forces have yet to be deployed in sufficient numbers.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.