Rabat – Spain’s Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, Elma Saiz, has described Morocco as a “reliable and loyal” partner as Madrid continues to deal with the fallout from the mass arrival of migrants in Ceuta.
Speaking in an interview with Spanish public broadcaster RTVE on Monday, Saiz defended cooperation between Spain and Morocco and said both countries had worked together to address the migration crisis in the Spanish enclave.
Saiz said Morocco had contributed to the “resolution in the first hours” of the crisis and highlighted the efforts both countries made to strengthen border controls.
Her comments came as the Spanish government faced growing pressure over its handling of the situation in Ceuta, where tens of thousands of migrants entered irregularly from Morocco beginning July 30.
Spanish authorities have since been working to manage the arrivals, including the reception of migrants who remain in the city and the return of those who meet the legal requirements for repatriation.
Saiz did not provide an updated figure for the number of Moroccan migrants who remain in Ceuta after the mass arrivals, according to El Espanol. She said around 1,800 migrants were staying in temporary accommodation, while others were still living on the streets.
She also declined to update the last official figure for unaccompanied minors, which stood at around 2,500. Saiz said the number had likely increased but that identifying and registering minors remained a complex process.
The minister also rejected claims that children were still staying at the Trampolín beach area, saying there were no girls there.
Her comments came on the same day that the Spanish government stepped up its response to the pressure on Ceuta.
Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo was scheduled to travel to Ceuta to meet President Juan Jesús Vivas and discuss an economic support plan for the city. The government said the plan would address sectors affected by the crisis, including tourism and trade.
Meanwhile, Secretary of State for Health Javier Padilla arrived in Ceuta to assess the impact of the migration crisis on the city’s public health system.
The visit follows Health Minister Mónica García’s trip to Ceuta the previous week, when she rejected claims that the healthcare system had collapsed but acknowledged that some services, including emergency care, internal medicine, and primary care, were under particular pressure.
Madrid is also coordinating the delivery of vaccines to Ceuta, including vaccines against measles, chickenpox, polio, tetanus and diphtheria.
Saiz’s remarks come as political tensions over the crisis continue to grow, with opposition parties and regional leaders demanding stronger measures. Her defense of Morocco as a “reliable and loyal” partner signals that Madrid intends to maintain cooperation with Rabat despite the political pressure surrounding the crisis.
