Two underage migrants were injured in a knife attack on Thursday during a fight in the La Marina area of Ceuta, in a new outbreak of violence amid the migration emergency gripping the city. The National Police intervened after the incident and emergency health services treated the two youths, who had cuts around their ankles.
The incident comes as Ceuta struggles with the impact of the arrival of tens of thousands of migrants and with the difficulties of providing accommodation for those who remain in the city.
Health alert at Trampolín beach
Ceuta’s Department of Health has also warned of a health risk from contact with the water at Trampolín beach, where a migrant encampment remains in place.
Tests on samples taken on 23, 25 and 28 September found “very high” concentrations of intestinal enterococci and Escherichia coli, above the limits set for coastal waters.
The report released this Friday concludes that there is a “health risk” associated with contact with the water. The Ceuta authorities have also decided to put up fencing on Benítez beach to prevent new encampments from being established in this bathing area.
Migrants sleeping in garages, vehicles and on rooftops
The difficulty of finding accommodation is forcing some migrants to seek alternative places to spend the night. Garages, cars and empty vans are being used as makeshift sleeping areas. In some neighbourhoods, rooftop spaces are being offered for around 12 euros per night.
The security forces have also identified homes being used to house large groups of people. In one of these so-called “patera flats”, the police and Civil Guard found up to 30 people inside, most of them minors.
The situation has prompted criticism from some local residents, who complain that people are profiting from migrants’ urgent need for somewhere to stay.
Growing pressure on public services
The UGT-Ceuta local union has demanded “sufficient resources” to maintain the quality of public services and protect workers in the face of the arrival of thousands of migrants. The union has called on the government for a coordinated plan to safeguard public services and restore normality in the city.
The Ombudsman, Ángel Gabilondo, is visiting Ceuta this week to assess first-hand the scale of the humanitarian emergency. He is due to meet the president of the autonomous city, Juan Jesús Vivas, and to visit Ceuta University Hospital.