Ikram, a 17-year-old girl, shared with CBC through a text message that she is once again living on the streets. Initially finding temporary relief in Ceuta, a Spanish enclave, she had been homeless for nearly a month before a family took her in for a few days. However, when the work opportunities dried up, she was back on the streets.
In July, Ikram left the Moroccan town of Fnideq along with around 80,000 Moroccans and migrants from other regions, all hoping to enter Ceuta for a chance at legal residency in Europe. She expressed dissatisfaction with life in Morocco due to her father’s low income as a tailor.
Despite most migrants returning shortly after the surge, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that 5,000 individuals remained in Ceuta. Among them are hundreds of unaccompanied minors, including Ikram, living in precarious conditions.
According to Save the Children Spain, the Spanish Ministry of the Interior has registered around 2,500 minors in Ceuta, potentially more. Spain’s Minister for Youth and Children highlighted that many of these minors are under 13 years old, with a significant number being girls.
Ikram made another attempt to reach Ceuta after a previous failed effort in 2024. She described a chaotic scene at the border, where she witnessed fatalities but managed to reach the shore with the help of another migrant.
The situation for minors in Ceuta has been likened to a “war zone” by French journalist Khadija Toufik, who reported that unaccompanied minors face nightly terror and violence. The vulnerability extends to families like Anouar’s, who arrived with his son but struggle to find stable shelter.
Tensions have escalated in Ceuta, with reports of violent incidents involving migrants and authorities. Abdo, a 17-year-old migrant, shared his experiences of mistreatment by Spanish soldiers and his persistent efforts to reach Europe for a better future.
Both Ikram and Abdo, along with other migrants, face challenges in finding safe accommodation in Ceuta. Despite the hardships, they remain determined to pursue a better life abroad.