67 Dead as Migrants Flood Spanish Enclave of Ceuta, Mediterranean Border Tensions Rise

The Spanish government announced that 67 migrants have died attempting to swim from Morocco into the Spanish territory of Ceuta. The death toll includes those who drowned during the swim and others who died in stampedes while trying to breach the border fence after reaching land. Following the influx of an estimated 60,000 migrants who landed in Ceuta on Thursday and Friday, the Spanish government declared it would reinforce a 500-meter fence along the coastline. Migrants arriving in Ceuta were reportedly met by Spanish soldiers in a state of exhaustion and escorted back to the border. According to the Spanish Ministry of the Interior, a large portion of the migrants who entered have been sent back to Morocco. The city of Ceuta, which was chaotic just days ago with tens of thousands of people surging in search of new lives, has returned to an unusual quiet. However, the disruption has threatened the security of Ceuta's 84,000 residents. One resident stated, "Our lives are disturbed by migrants crossing the border. We feel some relief seeing them leave, but this issue must be resolved fundamentally." Ceuta has yet to return to its previous normalcy. Despite this, some migrants who risked their lives crossing the sea remain in the city. Mahammet Hatri, a 23-year-old Moroccan, is among them. He said, "The people of Ceuta have closed their shops, making it impossible for us to buy anything. They are trying to force us to return to our country." "Even with closed shops, we will continue to stay here. We choose to live here, even if we starve." Source: Koh Santepheap Khmer