Spain’s Health Minister Mónica García reiterated on 28 August 2026 that in Ceuta around 3,800 refugees are already housed in facilities made available for them. She said that further capacity for about 1,000 people would be added in the coming days. The aim, she said, is to provide everyone affected with shelter and decent conditions within two to three weeks. García described the situation as a humanitarian crisis and stressed that the situation in the city could return to normal only once everyone had safe accommodation.
The immediate cause was the mass border crossings at the end of July 2026, after which thousands of people reached Ceuta, some of them staying outdoors for weeks. Initial assistance was organised mainly by aid organisations such as Cruz Roja. However, several reports agree that aid distribution has been disrupted in recent days. The news agency EFE reported incidents on 27 August in which demonstrators blocked deliveries and set fire to makeshift accommodation. No official figures on injuries had been released by then.
The central government has, according to its own account, increased staffing and logistical capacity in Ceuta. This includes additional medical teams for triage, vaccination services, epidemiological checks and basic care in temporary accommodation. García stressed that orderly reception procedures reduce health risks while also making it easier to assess asylum and residence applications. The health authorities responsible are coordinating the measures with the autonomous authorities on the ground.
Politically, both the central government and the Partido Popular called for calm and condemned violent actions in the city. Observers and government representatives also warn that heated political rhetoric fuels tensions. The Ministry of the Presidency reiterated the continued presence of state authorities to coordinate security, social assistance and legal procedures.
The government has so far given no specific deadlines for returns or individual asylum decisions. According to the competent authorities, these steps are to be taken gradually and alongside the provision of accommodation. García said that the priority was to give everyone affected a safe place first and enable the necessary administrative and health procedures to begin.
Editor: Clara Simonichek (Article created with AI assistance).