The National Agency for Social Protection of Uzbekistan signed a Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation with the Russian Institute of Sectoral Nutrition. The goal of this agreement is to improve the healthy nutrition system in social protection institutions across the country.
During the meeting, representatives of both sides discussed the current state of food organization in social care facilities. Issues such as implementing modern approaches, improving the regulatory and methodological framework, as well as professional development of specialists and expanding the application of advanced international experience were addressed.
The signed memorandum provides for joint work on developing current standards and methodological recommendations for catering in social care institutions. Furthermore, the cooperation will cover optimizing procurement and food delivery systems, introducing modern technologies, as well as training and improving the qualifications of relevant specialists with the involvement of international experts.
It is expected that the implementation of these agreements will positively affect the improvement of food quality and the overall level of social services provided to citizens residing in the institutions of the National Agency for Social Protection system.
The young people aged 14 to 17, who identify as residents of 'minor centers,' revealed to Lusa that they speak Spanish or another language besides Arabic. These adolescents were attracted to the illegal border crossing from Morocco via Instagram, using posts that contained maps and detailed instructions on how to cross and what to do upon entering the Spanish city.
A 15-year-old boy from Tangier confessed to Lusa that he was deceived because the Instagram content was false. He was part of the crowd of over 50,000 people who suddenly invaded the Spanish enclave in North Africa in 24 hours, either on foot or by swimming.
In the industrial area of EL Tarajal, near the border crossing between Ceuta and the Moroccan city of Fnideq, there is a reception center managed by the Samur Foundation. This center is open but isolated by metal barriers, preventing access for journalists or the hundreds of young people wandering nearby or sitting on the sidewalks. On Sunday, the warehouses in the premises, which operate at reduced capacity, were completely closed and locked.
Ceuta authorities had repeatedly warned, before the massive arrival of tens of thousands of people on Thursday and Friday, about the overcrowding in the reception centers for unaccompanied migrant minors, requesting support from other autonomous regions of Spain.
Sources from the Ceuta executive, cited by the newspapers El Periodico and El Pais, reported that the number of minors in the centers jumped from 180 to 800 in ten days. The same sources admitted that due to the scale of the situation, it was no longer possible to count those who arrived starting on Thursday, stating that 'thousands arrived and nobody knows how many.'
In Spain, the responsibility for managing the reception of unaccompanied minors arriving in the country who cannot be subject to deportation orders falls on the regional governments, following national laws and international treaties. Regions such as the Canary Islands, Ceuta, and Melilla have requested solidarity from other autonomous governments to deal with this problem.
Following the recent events in Ceuta, the central government recognized that an 'extremely complex situation' had set in the city. Miguel Ángel Pérez, delegate of the Spanish Government in Ceuta, declared in a press conference that the state would support the autonomous city, especially in the area of minors, if there was a complex situation requiring a response.
According to the Spanish government, more than 48,000 people who entered Ceuta during 24 hours left the city on Friday. Among those who remained are the hundreds of minors who now occupy the industrial area of El Tarajal, in a scenario distinct from the normality recovered in the city center or the border area with Morocco.
Despite being tricked by Instagram, facing shortages of food and shelter, the minors informed Lusa that they will 'hold on until they can,' with returning to Morocco being the last alternative, since 'there is nothing to do' there. All interviewees guaranteed not to study; many mentioned working 'since childhood,' either in agriculture or as barbers. Some claimed their parents knew where they were, while others did not answer this question.
One group reported coming from Meknes, about 300 kilometers from Ceuta, while others claimed to be from closer cities, such as Tangier. The common goal of these young people is to 'stay in Spain' or 'have a future in Spain.'
Data from April of this year from the International Labour Organization (ILO) indicates that one in five Moroccans aged 15 to 29, totaling 2.9 million young people, is unemployed and not studying. The ILO pointed out that these figures double those recorded three years ago and that the situation of young people without education or work 'continues to be a structural challenge' in Morocco.
The Moroccan Human Rights Association stated on Saturday that 'despair has ceased to be an individual feeling to become the identity of an entire generation.' This association interprets the emigration or desire to emigrate of Moroccan youth as the realization of this despair and a condemnation of 'corruption, authoritarianism, and abuse of power.'
Discontent was also manifested in protests by the GENZ212 movement, which marched in September demanding better public services and criticizing the millionaire spending of the Moroccan Government on sports infrastructure, such as the new stadium in Casablanca planned for the 2030 World Cup. After the repression of these protests, arrests, and convictions, the GENZ212 movement is currently dispersed.
In an interview with the Spanish newspaper El País, Juan Jesús Vivás expressed deep regret over the 'tragedy' of these deaths that occurred 'on both sides of the border.'
The newspaper reported that Morocco is also searching for some bodies in the sea, and that 'not all died during the surge that happened on the breakwater last Thursday when people tried to reach the Spanish side of the beach en masse and desperately.'
The online version of El País states that 'some bodies are in a more decomposed state because arrivals on the coast of Ceuta have been continuing for more than two weeks, and during this period some migrants disappeared during dangerous night crossings of the sea, using barely anything more than a lifebuoy. Many of those who arrived en masse on Thursday could not even swim.'
Sources from the mortuary agency told the newspaper that among the bodies in the morgue were many teenagers, some women, Moroccans, and Africans from Sub-Saharan Africa.
The Spanish government had previously stated that at least 72 people had drowned in recent days while trying to reach Ceuta. Miguel Ángel Pérez Triano, the Government Delegate of Madrid in the region, confirmed at a press conference that the number of bodies recovered from the water on the Spanish side, near the El Tarajal pontoon, at the border between the autonomous city of Ceuta and Morocco, reached 72.
Sources from the Spanish police, cited by the EFE agency, calculated that about 73,500 people who were illegally in Ceuta left the city on Thursday. These figures, according to sources, may include people caught in the avalanche that hit the border with Moroccan Spanish enclave between Thursday and Friday, as well as those who had been in Ceuta from previous days.
Officially, the Spanish Government and the executive branch of the autonomous city of Ceuta stated that initial estimates showed that between 50,000 and 60,000 people entered the enclave during this mass invasion on Thursday and Friday.
The British Home Office released data on the irregular crossing of the English Channel from France to the United Kingdom. In the corresponding period of the previous year, the number of people who crossed was 1,962.
Since the beginning of this year, a total of 14,526 migrants have arrived in the UK via this same route. These figures represent drops of 43% and 14% when compared to the records of the equivalent periods in 2025 and 2024, respectively.
According to the Ministry, crossings across the English Channel in small vessels are influenced by weather conditions, showing peaks mainly during the hotter months of Summer.
A Ministry spokesperson stated that the Government is increasing its efforts to reduce these small vessel crossings. A record number of repatriations of migrants who arrived via this route has been achieved, along with a 12% reduction in asylum applications.
Additionally, about 70,000 individuals who were in an illegal situation in the country were deported or expelled, which constitutes a 41% increase compared to the same period last year.
The spokesperson added that they will continue to work on eradicating the factors that attract irregular migrants, mentioning the 'historic agreement' signed with France by Minister Shabana Mahmood. This agreement aims to 'strengthen surveillance operations on beaches and bring human trafficking networks to justice.'
Andrew Murray Burnham commented this week that the British Government's plan to reduce irregular immigration 'has started to show results,' although he admitted that the efforts need to be intensified.
The Prime Minister stated on Friday that despite it being the period of the year with the highest movement of crossings, the total volume decreased and the number of people repatriated or expelled increased.
Andrew Murray Burnham assumed the post of Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on July 20, succeeding Keir Starmer, who is also a Labour member.
