The government of Ceuta and its cleaning crews plan to clean the Trampolín beach for the second time on Friday, according to the journal “Faro de Ceuta.” Authorities will first attempt a fresh evacuation of roughly 500 migrants who returned to the makeshift camp on Thursday afternoon after being moved to temporary housing centers in the morning.
Following the first evacuation on Thursday, cleaning teams arrived and the situation appeared to stabilize. Throughout the afternoon, however, migrants drifted back to the improvised camp out of fear that relocation to the four new centers opened by the central executive might serve as a preliminary step toward expulsion to Morocco.
Conflicting Evacuation Figures and Camp Conditions at Trampolín Beach
Migrants constructed numerous shelters and huts this week at Trampolín using reeds, plastic bags, and cardboard. Estimates of the population camping on the site fluctuate widely by source, matching discrepancies in transfer figures to the temporary facilities at Loma Margarita and El Embolsamiento, which can accommodate 1,800 people. Police figures claim about 4,000 individuals were evacuated, while government sources place that total at 1,500.
Local media outlets report that the government of the afro-european enclave pulled back its cleaning crews because it could not guarantee worker safety following the steady return of the homeless population. Authorities plan to repeat this withdrawal on Friday if conditions fail to improve. Juan Vivas, the president of Ceuta, criticized the management approach, stating, “Moving them from Trampolín to other places in Ceuta does not show a willingness to solve the problem.”
Did You Know? The Red Cross distributed nearly 4,000 bags of food in the surrounding areas during Thursday, which partially drove the heavy attendance at Trampolín as many individuals visited the beach specifically to eat.
Expansion of Emergency Shelter Capacities Across Ceuta
Elma Saiz, the Minister of Migrations, confirmed that new migrant reception capacities will expand to reach 4,000 places.
Journalists on the scene observed approximately ten tents erected on the sand overnight alongside the improvised camp structures. While officials coordinate facility expansions, the persistent return of individuals to the beach highlights ongoing tensions regarding temporary relocations and long-term housing solutions across the enclave.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many migrants are currently estimated to be at the Trampolín beach camp?
Authorities estimate roughly 500 migrants returned to the camp on Thursday afternoon, though official figures do not exist and various sources report differing headcounts.
What are the alternative housing locations designated for the migrants?
The agreed spaces include Loma Margarita, El Embolsamiento, the Hípica military site, the former football field of the cavalry barracks, and the El Guano zone, alongside four new centers opened by the central executive.
Why did cleaning crews temporarily withdraw from the beach on Thursday?
Local media report that the government of the enclave withdrew the cleaning detail because it could not guarantee the safety of the workers after the progressive return of the migrants.
What steps could the government of Ceuta take next if Friday’s scheduled evacuation and cleanup operation fail to permanently clear the beach camp?
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