Spanish police start pushing migrants out of Ceuta beaches

Spanish police have begun driving illegal Moroccan migrants from the beaches of Ceuta and directing them to newly opened temporary shelters. This is reported by El Pais and Reuters.

The operation began at 7:00 local time (8:00 GMT). According to media reports, police fired rubber bullets into the air and used batons against migrants. However, in most cases, the displacement of migrants from the beaches was calm.

On July 30 and 31, more than 70,000 illegal migrants entered Ceuta from Morocco. Most of them were expelled only a few weeks later. However, more than 10,000 migrants still remain in Ceuta. Most of them live in temporary dwellings or simply outdoors in several areas of Ceuta, mostly on beaches. Last week, 42 temporary migrant homes burned down on a beach in the El Tarahal industrial park.

Ceuta authorities have created new temporary shelters for migrants in the port for 1,700 people. This is where the police sent migrants from the beaches. However, according to human rights organizations, there will not be enough space for everyone in the new shelters.

Jana Christmas