After the deaths of 96 people: Spain to transfer 500 children from Ceuta to the mainland

The Spanish government announced it will transfer approximately 500 migrant children from Ceuta to the mainland, amid the humanitarian crisis in the enclave following the mass crossing attempt from Morocco in late July, in which at least 96 people were killed. The decision marks a shift from the position of the Interior Minister, who said migrants would not be transferred to the mainland.

The Spanish government reversed its position and announced it will allow the transfer of approximately 500 migrant children from Ceuta, the Spanish enclave in North Africa, to mainland Spain. The decision was made amid the humanitarian crisis in the enclave, where about 5,000 migrants remain after the mass crossing attempt from Morocco in late July, in which at least 96 people were killed. Under Spanish law, the state is obligated to protect unaccompanied minors and care for them until age 18. Spain's Ministry of Youth and the Ceuta government are formulating an emergency plan to transfer about 500 of the most vulnerable children, especially girls, to the mainland. The decision is expected to spark political conflict in Spain, as regions controlled by the conservative People's Party and the far-right Vox party are reluctant to accept the quota. The People's Party argued that the children belong with their families. The announcement came hours after the European Commission stated that all migrants who entered illegally, including unaccompanied minors, should be returned to Morocco. The conflicting messages stem from the fact that the new European migration pact has not yet been incorporated into Spanish law.