Ceuta: 4,000 unidentified children estimated after massive migrant entry

An estimated 4,000 unidentified minors are currently unaccounted for within Ceuta's child protection system, two weeks after a massive surge of approximately 80,000 people illegally entered the Spanish enclave from Morocco. Local non-governmental organizations report significant challenges in locating and assisting these children, many of whom lack safe sleeping arrangements and access to essential services.

Save The Children, a prominent NGO, estimates the figure, noting the difficulty in tracking all children scattered throughout the city. While approximately 1,500 minors are presently under the care of the protection system, thousands more are believed to be in various locations across the North African enclave. This situation is particularly concerning for unaccompanied minors, some under 16, who face heightened risks.

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this figure is only an estimate due to the difficulty in locating all the children who remain in various points of the Spanish city, without a safe place to sleep or adequate access to basic services.

The sheer number of unidentified children underscores the strain on Ceuta's resources and the complex humanitarian crisis unfolding. The lack of identification and support systems leaves these vulnerable minors exposed to exploitation and further hardship.

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Among the minors who continue on the street, the organization identified children, some under 16 years of age, a situation that is particularly worrying due to the risk of exploitation.