Thousands of Migrants Sleeping Rough in Spanish Enclave, Rights Group Says

(MILAN) – The Spanish government is failing to provide basic shelter and safety for thousands of migrants and asylum seekers who swam into the North African enclave of Ceuta from Morocco in late July, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Thursday. The group urged Spanish authorities to act urgently to house all migrants and to give those who want it the chance to apply for asylum. “Thousands of people have been in the streets in a legal vacuum, exposed to sexual violence and without adequate shelter, food, or sanitation for almost three weeks,” said Judith Sunderland, senior associate director for refugee and migrant rights at HRW. During a research trip from August 15 to 18, HRW spoke with 76 migrants. Tens of thousands arrived between July 30-31. The interior minister said on August 13 that 5,000 remain, but local groups say the number could be as high as 10,000. The government announced plans for four tent camps with space for 1,500 adults on August 17. HRW said this is not enough. Many migrants believe the delay in aid was intentional, to push them to return to Morocco. More than a thousand men and boys are living in makeshift huts on a beach called Trampolín. Hundreds more are sleeping on the streets and in a warehouse district. Women and girls are in open-air sports facilities. There are few toilets or showers, so people are using parks, empty lots, and the sea. “I went without food for the first two or three days; I only drank water,” said Mahmoud, a 36-year-old Palestinian from Gaza. “I stayed up in the mountains for 10 days before coming down to the beach with the others.” HRW saw no sign that authorities have started legal procedures or individual assessments for adults. Migrants from countries including Sudan, Somalia, and Syria said they want to apply for asylum. “I want to apply for asylum,” said Mohamed, a 20-year-old from Sudan. “But we don't have any information yet.” Many Moroccan women said they fled domestic abuse. Fatima, 47, swam to Ceuta with her 11-year-old son to escape her abusive husband. She showed a long scar on her arm where she said he cut her with a knife. Police told her to wait in the warehouse district “until there is a solution.” Under European Union rules, Spain should have already screened everyone for security, health, and vulnerability. It is unclear if Spain will use fast-track asylum procedures that could lead to quick rejections, including for people who passed through Morocco, which the EU considers a “safe” country. Doctors told HRW they treated eight women and girls for rape and sexual assault. The public prosecutor’s office received 13 cases of sexual assault between July 30 and August 17. The situation for unaccompanied children is especially worrying. The Ceuta government says it has taken charge of 1,385, while police have registered 2,168. Two schools used as shelters must be vacated before the school year starts in early September. Local groups warned of rising tension in the city of 85,000 people. “There is so much uncertainty and that generates fear among residents, and the problem is when fear turns to hatred,” said Halima Ahmed of the charity Luna Blanca. HRW said Spain must provide adequate reception and individual assessments with legal advice. The European Convention on Human Rights prohibits collective expulsions. “Spanish authorities should not let populist calls for mass summary deportations prevent them from acting in accordance with their obligations under international law,” Sunderland said.