Ceuta's conservative president, Juan Jesús Vivas, has briefed European lawmakers in Brussels on the situation in the city following last week's migration crisis with Morocco. He described the incident as an 'invasion', defined as an anomalous or irregular occupation of a specific place.
Thousands still in the city
Vivas told MEPs that 3,000 to 5,000 migrants of the 80,000 who crossed the border remain in the city, which 'in no way allows us to say that our city has returned to normal.' He added: 'We have a situation where the influx has led to a humanitarian emergency of enormous proportions, compounded by disturbances to public order and a high risk to public safety.'
Residents' fears
The president warned lawmakers that 'our people feel sad, helpless, anxious, fearful and worried, and they have good reason to, because it is inevitable to wonder whether this will happen again at some point.'
Vivas also said that 'it has become evident' that 'our security and integrity are in the hands of a third country, Morocco, that does not recognise our sovereignty.' He called on Spanish national authorities to 'adopt whatever measures necessary to restore the normality,' including the 'immediate expulsion' of all people who crossed the border irregularly.
Deaths during crisis
He also lamented the deaths of some 100 people during the crisis.
