Ceuta families move their children to the mainland out of fear

Dozens of minors have been sent to the mainland out of fear for their safety in Ceuta, a city that has seen thousands of migrants roaming its streets since the surge on 30 July. Local families have moved their children to the mainland due to security concerns.

Sam, a Ceutan mother, bought tickets and left on the same Thursday as the surge. She opted to go to Fuengirola (Malaga) to stay with some friends to spend the first hours away from the chaos. She had to return, but she sent her son to Elche (Alicante) to stay with a relative.

Fátima sent her two younger daughters, aged nine and eleven, on a ferry to Algeciras (Cadiz) last Sunday. In Ceuta, the children are living confined. In her case, it was a friend of the family residing in the Cádiz town of San Fernando who took charge of the girls, picking them up at the port in Algeciras and organising a makeshift "home summer camp" with the children of the hosting couple.

Mariam turned to her sister, who lives in Seville, to look after her three youngest children during those days. They accompanied her there last Sunday when the government was already talking about "normality", and "they will stay there for a few more days".

Mamtu altered her trip to stay in Estepona (Malaga) with another sister. The situation also disrupted the plans of her nephew, a father of two young children, who decided to "pack up and leave for Torremolinos", where they have a second home.

Rafael's two youngest granddaughters arrived by helicopter shortly after 5:30 pm on the same Thursday of the invasion. "The situation was terrible," he recounts. "When my daughter saw what was happening, she decided it wasn't a life for two minors."

Around 80,000 people crossed the border from Morocco on 30 July. A Ceuta court is investigating at least six complaints of sexual assaults against female migrants, including minors. Medical services have attended to four girls for abuse. Additionally, there have been cases of break-ins and violent robberies both in private homes and on the streets.

On Sunday, the four religious communities – Christian, Muslim, Jewish, and Hindu – organised a demonstration under the slogan "Ceuta does not surrender". This mobilisation reflects the need for the city to regain its lost normality and security.

According to the press, the situation in Ceuta remains critical, and families continue to seek solutions to protect their children. The next step will be to see how the government responds to the demands for security and normality from the Ceutan residents.

Piece prepared by the newsroom from cross-checked sources in several countries.