Hundreds of Migrant Children Stranded After Border Crossing

At least 860 migrant children remain stranded in Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta following one of the deadliest border crossings in recent years, which claimed at least 72 lives.

Many of the children arrived unaccompanied after thousands of migrants attempted to swim around the border breakwater from Morocco into the Spanish territory. Several were separated from their families during the crossing, while others witnessed relatives drown before reaching the enclave.

One 17-year-old survivor told the Associated Press she lost her eight-year-old brother during the crossing and has been unable to locate her mother since arriving in Ceuta. She said she has spent several days relying on the kindness of residents after discovering that government-run reception centres had reached capacity.

Spanish authorities said the children cannot be immediately deported under national law and must be provided with protection and care. However, the sudden influx has overwhelmed the city’s reception facilities, forcing many minors to sleep outdoors and depend on donations for food, clothing and other necessities.

While many Moroccan adults have either returned voluntarily or been repatriated, thousands of migrants remain in Ceuta, including people from Sudan, Gaza, Afghanistan and several African countries seeking asylum or humanitarian protection.

The latest arrivals have placed renewed pressure on Spanish authorities as they work to accommodate vulnerable children, process asylum claims and respond to one of the largest migration surges into the enclave in recent years.

SOURCE: AP