Hundreds of migrants remain on Ceuta beach after surge

Hundreds of migrants remain camped on a beach in Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta, creating a severe humanitarian situation as authorities struggle to manage the aftermath of a massive border surge that began on July 29. The crisis has left thousands stranded, sparked diplomatic tensions within the European Union, and resulted in a significant loss of life.

Spanish officials estimate that approximately 69,500 people have been returned to Morocco over the past several days, a figure that exceeds initial estimates of around 50,000 arrivals. Despite these returns, between 3,000 and 5,000 migrants are still in the tiny territory. The two local reception centers, one for adults and another for minors, have collapsed under the strain, forcing many to sleep on beaches like El Trampolin or in public spaces. Among those remaining are 862 unaccompanied minors, who are under special legal protections.

The official death toll from the border rush stands at 72 on the Spanish side and 11 on the Moroccan side. Many of the migrants still in Ceuta, who hail from countries including Sudan, Somalia, Senegal, Mali, and Egypt, describe dire conditions. They cite shop closures leading to food...