Kathmandu— Juan Jesus Vivas, the leader of Ceuta, reported to European Parliament on Thursday that around 100 people had died during a massive migrant rush through the border with Morocco. The incident occurred last week when approximately 72,000 migrants attempted to cross into Ceuta from Morocco, leading to significant humanitarian and logistical challenges for the city.

Humanitarian Crisis in Ceuta

The Spanish government stated that nearly all of the migrants had returned to Morocco. However, Vivas noted that between 3,000 and 5,000 migrants remain in Ceuta, with hundreds being unaccompanied minors enduring difficult conditions without adequate access to food, water, shelter, and sanitation.

Security Resource Shortage

Vivas highlighted the lack of security resources necessary to manage the situation. He told a European Parliament committee that security forces have not been deployed with sufficient intensity for the ongoing crisis. Additionally, immigration services have not received adequate reinforcements to handle border rejections effectively.

Legal and Political Challenges

In 2025, Spain passed an immigration law reform following a surge of migrants in the Canary Islands, mandating the redistribution of unaccompanied minors within 15 days. However, this move is expected to face resistance from regions governed by the center-right Popular Party (PP) and far-right Vox party. Deputy Prime Minister Carlos Cuerpo warned that all regional governments must comply with the law.

(With inputs from DW)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.