On 25 August 2026, the situation in the Spanish exclave of Ceuta remains tense. One month after the mass border crossing, the city council and emergency service unions report that thousands of people are still sheltering in public spaces, while the central government puts the remaining numbers much lower. The main concerns are humanitarian shortages and the additional burden on the police and emergency services.
The current debate centres on the continued use of squares, stretches of beach and industrial wasteland as accommodation, as well as reports of inadequate sanitary and medical care. Temporary areas mentioned include the beach zone of El Trampolín and industrial premises. Police unions report a noticeable increase in calls to the 091 emergency number and are calling for more staff and organised accommodation. Aid organisations describe limited capacity for first aid and hygiene.
Accounts of the scale of the situation differ: at the end of July, the central government put arrivals at around 72,000 and pointed to extensive returns to Morocco following the border crossings; Madrid most recently said that around 5,000 to 2,500 people remained. By contrast, local authorities and emergency service unions estimated in August that between 8,000 and 11,000 people were still in Ceuta. The city’s president, Juan Jesús Vivas, described a burden that exceeded existing reception capacity. These are estimates, and they differ significantly depending on the source.
The central government responded politically with a coordinated operation and the announcement of a mando único to bring responsibilities together. The Interior Minister travelled to discuss the situation, and the security authorities and administration agreed to further coordination. Police unions and local politicians say the measures have so far been insufficient; they are pressing for additional resources and reliable accommodation solutions. The government points to the returns already carried out and reinforcements under way.
Humanitarian organisations such as Cruz Roja and Médicos del Mundo are providing first aid but report shortages in medical care, drinking water and sanitation. Beyond immediate assistance, cooperation with Morocco is once again in focus: Madrid and the city of Ceuta stress the need for coordinated efforts to prevent further irregular border crossings. It remains unclear how the number of people still there will change and what additional capacity can be made available at short notice; no forecasts are available. What is clear is that the conflicting accounts from the government, city council and emergency services make it harder to assess the situation on the ground and hinder swift, consistent decisions.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).