The number of migrants in the city has reached approximately 13,000 people, as announced by the head of the autonomous government, Juan Jesús Vivás. This figure is based on counts conducted by the occupying authorities in various accommodation sites, as well as estimates made in camps such as beaches and mountains.
According to Vivás, among these 13,000 people are about 2,000 minors who are unaccompanied by adults and are under registration control and housed.
Juan Jesús Vivás questioned which Spanish city has 15 percent of its population as migrants, calling calls for 'measures to assist Ceuta' 'barbarism.' He noted that Ceuta has a population of about 83,000 people, and the city's territory covers less than 30 square kilometers.
The city head again demanded the 'immediate return' of all individuals who illegally entered Ceuta at the end of July. Previously, local executive authorities estimated the number of migrants remaining in Ceuta to be between 8,000 and 9,000.
According to the Spanish government, no less than 72,000 people entered Ceuta in just a few hours at the end of July, while local authorities estimated this number at 80,000. Most people left Ceuta in the subsequent hours and days; the Spanish government believes that at least 5,000 people remain in the city.
At a press conference on Tuesday, the Minister of Territorial Policy, Ángel Víctor Torres, coordinating the Spanish government's response to the crisis in Ceuta, stated that it is currently impossible to know exactly how many people remain in the city after the mass influx on July 30th. The Minister specified that the counting of people voluntarily returning to Morocco continues, as does the registration of those on the streets as temporary accommodation spaces become available.
According to the government, only with available accommodation can all people be registered and individual procedures for repatriation or asylum be initiated, if applicable. Currently, 3,400 temporary accommodation places have been created, and the government plans to reach 6,000 in the coming days.
Ángel Víctor Torres also reported that about 2,000 unaccompanied minors are among the registered individuals in Ceuta. After more than 90 percent of the at least 72,000 people who entered Ceuta on July 30th and 31st returned to Morocco within a few hours and days, another 4,500 people voluntarily left the Spanish city starting August 10th. Additionally, over 200 people were deported for committing offenses.