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Spain installs border barrier in Ceuta as migrant crisis death toll reaches 67
🇦🇷 Argentina /Disasters & Emergencies

Spain installs border barrier in Ceuta as migrant crisis death toll reaches 67

From La Nación · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Outcome reported
  • Spain has installed a new pneumatic barrier on its border with Morocco following a mass arrival of at least 50,000 migrants in Ceuta.
  • The death toll from the crossings has risen to 67.
  • The Spanish Interior Minister stated the situation has returned to normal, with most migrants returned to Morocco.

Spain has erected a new pneumatic barrier along its border with Morocco in Ceuta, a Spanish enclave in North Africa, after a surge of at least 50,000 migrants triggered a diplomatic crisis and resulted in 67 deaths. The city awoke to a dense fog and groups of young people continuing to cross into Morocco, observed by military personnel and Civil Guard agents.

In less than 48 hours, normalcy is being achieved.

— Fernando Grande MarlaskaSpanish Interior Minister's statement on the return to normalcy in Ceuta.

The Ministry of the Interior announced the installation of the 500-meter-long barrier, which has a surface height of 30 to 70 centimeters and a submerged depth of one meter. This structure, installed by the Society of Maritime Rescue and Safety (Sasemar), complements an initial line of buoys provided by the Army. Meanwhile, the number of fatalities among those attempting to enter the Spanish enclave has climbed to 67, according to Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande Marlaska.

Marlaska declared that the situation has returned to "normalcy" within 48 hours, despite criticism leveled against the socialist government of President Pedro Sánchez for allegedly failing to protect the autonomous city. The crisis began on Thursday with the arrival of the large migrant group. By Friday night, the government reported that nearly all arrivals had been returned to Morocco, totaling approximately 48,000 individuals.

The decisive and permanent collaboration with the Moroccan authorities.

— Fernando Grande MarlaskaMinister Marlaska's comment on cooperation with Morocco regarding migrant returns.

The minister praised the "decisive and permanent collaboration with the Moroccan authorities" for facilitating the return of all illegal entrants. He asserted that Morocco poses no threat to Ceuta or Spain and is a "completely reliable partner." The influx saw over 1,500 migrants arrive in Ceuta in the past week, primarily by swimming, according to Spanish authorities. The autonomous city, with a population of about 84,000, experienced one of its most severe crises.

It is not a threat to Ceuta or the rest of Spain and it is an absolutely reliable partner.

— Fernando Grande MarlaskaMinister Marlaska's assessment of Morocco as a partner.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by La Nación in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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