Two underage migrants sustained knife injuries during a violent altercation in the La Marina area of Ceuta on Thursday. Emergency health services provided treatment to the youths, who suffered cuts around their ankles, while the National Police intervened to address the incident. This act of violence marks a new escalation in the migration emergency currently impacting the city.
The situation in Ceuta is increasingly strained as officials struggle to manage the arrival of tens of thousands of migrants and the subsequent lack of adequate housing. Many migrants have been forced to seek shelter in makeshift conditions, including in garages, cars, and empty vans. In some neighborhoods, residents are reportedly charging around 12 euros per night for access to rooftop spaces. Security forces have also discovered homes functioning as overcrowded "patera flats," with one instance involving 30 people, most of whom were minors, housed in a single property. Local residents have voiced criticism regarding individuals who are profiting from the urgent housing needs of these migrants.
Public health concerns have further complicated the crisis. The Department of Health in Ceuta issued a warning regarding contact with the water at Trampolín beach, which currently hosts a migrant encampment. Official water samples collected on September 23, 25, and 28 revealed "very high" concentrations of intestinal enterococci and Escherichia coli, exceeding safety limits for coastal waters. A report released this Friday concluded that there is a "health risk" associated with the water. In response, authorities have decided to install fencing at Benítez beach to prevent the establishment of new encampments in that bathing area.
The UGT-Ceuta local union has called on the government to implement a coordinated plan to protect public services and workers, requesting "sufficient resources" to manage the ongoing arrival of thousands of people. Meanwhile, Ombudsman Ángel Gabilondo is visiting the city this week to evaluate the humanitarian situation firsthand. His itinerary includes a visit to the Ceuta University Hospital and a meeting with the president of the autonomous city, Juan Jesús Vivas.
