Spanish riot police and military clear Ceuta beaches as around 10,000 migrants remain after July surge

Spanish riot police and military personnel have begun clearing migrants from beaches in Ceuta, weeks after more than 72,000 people crossed into the Spanish territory from Morocco during July’s border surge.

The operation began before dawn on September 18, with authorities removing people who had been sleeping on beaches and relocating some into temporary accommodation.

Reuters reported that police used batons during crowding and fired rubber bullets into the air before the clearance operation resumed.

Spain estimates that approximately 10,000 migrants remain in Ceuta following the July crossings.

Thousands still without accommodation

Authorities have opened a new temporary facility at the port with capacity for approximately 1,700 adult men.

That remains well below the number of people still in the territory.

One NGO estimates that around 4,000 migrants are continuing to sleep outdoors, including on beaches and in other public spaces.

The clearance operation is intended to move people away from those areas while authorities continue dealing with accommodation and processing.

More than 72,000 people crossed from Morocco into Ceuta in July, creating an immediate border and humanitarian crisis.

The flow has since fallen sharply, but the consequences of the surge remain visible weeks later.

With around 10,000 migrants estimated to remain and accommodation available for only a fraction of them, Spanish authorities are now dealing with the longer-term consequences of the crossings rather than the initial border breach.

The involvement of riot police and the military in today’s beach operation demonstrates the scale of that continuing challenge.

The immediate surge may have ended.

Thousands of the people who crossed during it are still in Ceuta.

Sources

• Reuters – Spanish police launch operation to clear Ceuta migrants off beach