The Spanish National Police launched a large-scale operation on Sunday, October 4, to partially evacuate a migrant camp on the "Trampoline" beach in the city of Ceuta. The camp is home to over 3,000 migrants, mostly Moroccans. The evacuation process is being carried out in stages due to limited space in reception facilities.
The dismantling of the camp comes ahead of the upcoming visit by King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia to Ceuta on October 13. The royal couple will also visit the city of Melilla the following day. This will be the first visit by the Spanish monarch to the two cities since his accession to the throne. The visit is seen as significant, particularly given the sensitive nature of the Ceuta and Melilla issue in Moroccan-Spanish relations.
Migrants from the camp are being transported by buses to the Temporary Foreigner Reception Center (CATE) at the Tarajal border crossing, where they will undergo identification and sorting procedures. Authorities are also offering those who wish to do so the option to voluntarily return to Morocco through the border crossing.
A significant security presence has been deployed in Ceuta in preparation for the royal visit. Two armored vehicles, a BMR, and a VAMTAC S3, have been deployed to the city, which may also be used in the evacuation of the Trampoline camp. The Spanish authorities are working to reorganize migrant reception facilities and dismantle makeshift camps on Ceuta's beaches ahead of the royal visit.
The visit by King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia comes after a major migration crisis in Ceuta in July. The crisis strained Moroccan-Spanish relations, which have been sensitive due to the status of Ceuta and Melilla. The two cities have been under Spanish control since the colonial era, but Morocco claims sovereignty over them.
According to local media, the evacuation of the Trampoline camp is part of efforts to eliminate makeshift camps on Ceuta's beaches by mid-October, coinciding with the royal visit. The Spanish government has been working to improve reception facilities and manage the flow of migrants into the city.
The situation in Ceuta remains a complex issue, with many migrants still seeking to reach Spanish territory. The visit by the Spanish royal couple is expected to draw attention to the issue and may lead to further discussions between Spanish and Moroccan authorities on managing migration and the status of Ceuta and Melilla.
Key points
- The Spanish police have begun evicting a migrant camp in Ceuta as King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia prepare to visit the city.
- The visit by the Spanish royal couple comes after a major migration crisis in Ceuta in July.
- The situation in Ceuta remains a complex issue, with many migrants still seeking to reach Spanish territory.
