The Spanish government has already registered 1,342 migrant minors in Ceuta

The Minister of Youth and Childhood of the Spanish government, Sira Rego, has assured from Ceuta that, to date, a total of 1,342 minors have been counted following the massive arrival of migrants in the autonomous city. In a media briefing, Rego detailed that the profile of the minors who have arrived in Spanish territory has changed: "There are many more girls than on other occasions," she said, and pointed out that younger children have also arrived than in previous crises. She also pointed out that the situation was overwhelmed and that "it is being controlled".

Rego detailed that "priority has been given to the most vulnerable profiles," which would be these girls and minors under 13 years of age who entered Ceuta with the massive arrival of migrants on July 30 from Morocco. "All boys and girls will be attended to, there has been an overwhelming situation that is now being controlled," insisted the minister. The registration process continues and it is a constant trickle of identifications. "For now, the figure I can provide is 1,342 registered minors affiliated with the reception system," she explained.

The minister also explained that on August 16, a technical team from the ministry will be permanently transferred to Ceuta, with the aim of making the reception procedure "as fast as possible." In fact, Rego said she would like to carry out the referrals of children to other communities to host the minors "immediately," and predicts that they could be done in "a few weeks." In this regard, she recalled that two schools are currently being used for the initial reception of these children in Ceuta, and guaranteed that they will be free to allow the start of the school year to proceed normally.

Rego recalled that a sectoral commission and a sectoral conference have already been convened. "Everything is aimed at urgently allocating a budgetary item and starting with the solidarity reception of children on the Peninsula, coordinated with other communities," she explained. In any case, she recalled that the priority in all cases is family reunification so that the children who have arrived alone can be reunited with their parents. In the event that parents from Morocco were to claim the children and they did not wish to return, she said that each case would have to be studied with specialized services.

The Ombudsman speaks

This Friday, the ombudsman, Ángel Gabilondo, also spoke about the situation in Ceuta. "The geopolitical aspect and foreign policy must prioritize the dimension of this humanitarian emergency, and it must be recognized what this border character means for Spain and for Europe," he says in a statement.

In the same statement, he argues that Ceuta alone "cannot be asked to accommodate so many minors, far from any possible calculation." The ombudsman has also asked to listen to those affected, "apply the law, which includes the help of interpreters and lawyers to determine their condition and act accordingly".