After spending nearly a month sleeping outdoors in various makeshift locations, 17-year-old Ikram expressed her return to the streets in a message to CBC on Monday. She briefly found refuge with a family in Ceuta, a Spanish enclave, where she helped care for their children for three days before the opportunity ended. Ikram had left Fnideq, a coastal town in Morocco, in July along with around 80,000 Moroccans and migrants aiming to enter Ceuta, seen as a potential gateway to European residency. Seeking a better life than what is available in Morocco, Ikram highlighted the financial struggles her family faces, with her father’s meager earnings as a tailor.
While most migrants who arrived in Ceuta during the surge in July promptly returned to Morocco, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that around 5,000 individuals remain in the enclave. Local estimates suggest that approximately 9,000 migrants are still in and around Ceuta, where the total population is roughly 80,000. Among the remaining residents are numerous unaccompanied minors, including Ikram, who are living in extremely precarious conditions.
According to migration specialist Jennifer Zuppiroli from Save the Children Spain, the Spanish Ministry of the Interior has registered 2,500 minors in Ceuta, although the actual count could be significantly higher. Many of these minors, some under 13 years old, are predominantly from Morocco, with others hailing from sub-Saharan Africa, like Sudan. Spain’s Minister for Youth and Children, Sira Rego, emphasized the importance of family reunification for these minors, recognizing the challenges around their return. International law mandates stringent safeguards for the deportation of unaccompanied minors, emphasizing their best interests.
Ikram’s journey to Ceuta was unplanned, spurred by witnessing people crossing the border. Despite facing dangerous situations, including near-drowning, she remains determined to stay in Ceuta to build a future that can support her family in Morocco. The narrative in Ceuta paints a distressing picture, with minors facing harsh conditions on the streets, vulnerable even alongside their families. Tensions have escalated in recent weeks, with reports of violence and unrest among the migrant population and locals, reflecting the challenging environment in the enclave.
Individual accounts from migrants, such as 17-year-old Abdo’s experience of being forced out of an abandoned hospital by soldiers, underscore the harsh realities faced by those seeking refuge in Ceuta. Abdo’s aspirations for a better future echo the sentiments of many migrants who see limited opportunities in their home countries. The stories of Ikram, Abdo, and others shed light on the struggles and hopes of those stranded in Ceuta, navigating a complex and often hostile environment.