Why are thousands of minors sleeping outdoors in Ceuta?

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Thousands of Minors are Sleeping Outdoors in Ceuta Due to a Mass Migration Event and Lack of Adequate Shelter and Care Services

Hundreds of unaccompanied minors are sleeping outdoors in a disused industrial park in Ceuta, having swum to the Spanish territory from Morocco. These teenagers are among tens of thousands of migrants who crossed into Ceuta in an unprecedented surge, with many of the youngest remaining in the hope of reaching mainland Europe rather than returning to Morocco. Conditions at the site are dire, with reports of minors not having eaten for days, sleeping on litter and flattened cardboard boxes, and facing a "catastrophic lack of hygiene."
Arrival Amidst Unprecedented Migrant Surge

The presence of hundreds of unaccompanied minors sleeping outdoors is a direct consequence of a large-scale migration event where an estimated 60,000 migrants arrived in Ceuta over a period of two to three days. Many of these individuals, including numerous teenagers, swam around the border post to reach the Spanish enclave. While most adult arrivals have been returned to Morocco, a significant number of the youngest migrants have remained, expressing a strong desire to proceed to mainland Spain.
Dire Living Conditions and Lack of Basic Necessities

The industrial park where the minors are staying has become a makeshift shelter characterised by severe hardship. Reports indicate that teenagers have gone without food for up to four days. They are sleeping on the ground, using litter and flattened cardboard boxes as bedding, and in some cases, on floors covered in water and mud within abandoned warehouses. Instances of minors showering with a hosepipe highlight the extreme lack of basic facilities and sanitation.
Inadequate Child Protection and Humanitarian Response

Despite Spain's 2000 law on foreigners' rights, which mandates "immediate attention" from child protection services for undocumented, unaccompanied minors, the situation on the ground appears to fall short. While some facilities within warehouses may be operated by organisations like the SAMU Foundation and the Ceuta regional government, with private security present, independent observers noted a lack of visible authorities and a general absence of care for the unaccompanied minors. Adult migrants described a "catastrophic lack of hygiene" and pleaded for assistance, requesting that someone take care of the minors by providing washing facilities, clothes, food, and shelter.
Desire to Reach Mainland Spain Over Return to Morocco

The minors' decision to remain in Ceuta and face harsh conditions stems from a profound desire to reach mainland Spain rather than be sent back to Morocco. Migrants frequently cited poverty in their home country as the primary driver for undertaking the dangerous journey. One 14-year-old explicitly stated he came alone, without adult supervision, and expressed a clear preference for Spain, with others chanting "Morocco, no! Spain." This sentiment underscores the perceived opportunities and safety they believe await them on the mainland, which they do not see available in their country of origin.

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Why are thousands of minors sleeping outdoors in Ceuta?

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