Agadir – Spain’s Health Minister Mónica García has called for an investigation into Morocco’s responsibilities in the recent migration crisis in Ceuta, describing the situation as both a humanitarian and geopolitical crisis.
Speaking on Spanish public broadcaster RTVE’s “La Hora de La 1” program, García said she did not yet have enough information to determine what went wrong during the crisis but stressed the need to establish Morocco’s role.
“We must determine what the responsibilities of the Moroccan government are,” García said, while recalling that 141 people died during the attempted crossing and that another 20 people had to be resuscitated.
Her remarks come amid continued scrutiny of the mass arrival of migrants in Ceuta at the end of July.
García urged Ceuta authorities to establish adequate spaces to accommodate migrants under safe and sanitary conditions.
She stressed the need for medical monitoring, epidemiological investigations, and measures to prevent potential infections, particularly given the large number of migrants who have arrived in Ceuta.
The minister rejected claims that Ceuta is facing a health crisis, while acknowledging that certain sectors are under significant strain.
She said that Ceuta had taken in around 5,800 migrants since the beginning of the crisis.
García’s comments add to growing political pressure in Spain over the handling of the Ceuta migration crisis, with questions being raised over both the humanitarian response and the role of Morocco in the events.
Morocco has rejected suggestions that it failed to anticipate the migration surge, saying it had warned Spanish authorities ahead of the Ceuta crisis.
Morocco has also stressed that it continues to take preventive measures to stop further irregular crossings. Rabat remains committed to accepting the return of people who cross into Ceuta and to strengthening measures to prevent additional departures.
Morocco has repeatedly expressed its readiness to cooperate with Spain on the return of Moroccan migrants, especially minors who are subjected to all sorts of abuse and exploitation.
