Authorities in Ceuta have been placed on high alert over a possible mass attempt by migrants to cross from Morocco on August 15, following calls circulating on social media urging another attempt to breach the border.
The concerns come just days after an unprecedented influx on July 30 and 31, when around 72,000 people crossed the border, while approximately 70,000 were subsequently returned to Morocco, according to Spanish government figures.
Thousands of migrants remain in Ceuta, including hundreds of unaccompanied children. The situation has placed severe pressure on the territory’s limited capacity for food, water, accommodation and sanitation services.
In anticipation of another potential influx, authorities have taken extraordinary measures. Spain’s Civil Guard has temporarily suspended new leave and vacation requests for personnel stationed in Ceuta and Melilla.
The military has also been placed on alert. Ceuta’s garrison has cancelled leave for military personnel stationed in the city from August 13 until further notice, except in special circumstances, Euronews reports.
Meanwhile, Ceuta’s regional president, Juan Jesús Vivas, has called for stronger measures regarding migrants who remain in the territory, describing the situation as “unsustainable.”
Spanish authorities are now working to prevent another major migration surge, with August 15 being viewed as a potential date for a new mass crossing attempt from Morocco.
