Spain has raised the ceiling for emergency funding aimed at strengthening humanitarian assistance in the occupied city of Ceuta to €44.5 million as authorities respond to an exceptional migration situation.
Spanish Inclusion, Social Security and Migration Minister Elma Saiz Delgado said the government had proposed increasing the maximum allocation to €44.51 million to strengthen the administration’s capacity to respond to the situation in the North African city.
Speaking before the Spanish Congress’ Committee on Labor, Social Economy, Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, Saiz said her ministry had approved an initial emergency declaration on Aug. 3 worth more than €6 million.
The measure was intended to maintain and expand the exceptional humanitarian response, she said.
Saiz added that the ministry was also working to cover costs arising from the situation through the European Union’s exceptional assistance mechanisms, particularly emergency funding linked to migration and asylum.
She said the Spanish government had requested EU assistance from the outset, rejecting information circulated in recent weeks suggesting otherwise.
On the humanitarian response, Saiz said 93,650 food packages had been distributed between El Tarajal beach and other locations across Ceuta as of Aug. 27 under a mechanism established in cooperation with the Red Cross.
Authorities also distributed 1,396 packages containing women’s hygiene products and 2,150 packages of men’s hygiene supplies, she said.
The Red Cross has provided 6,687 medical services at various locations across Ceuta and carried out 256 transfers to hospitals and health centers, according to the minister.
Saiz praised the organization’s humanitarian role in the city, describing its work as “absolutely essential” and calling for it to be allowed to continue operating with full safety guarantees and as smoothly as possible.
She also defended Red Cross employees and volunteers, saying many of the organization’s members devote their time and effort to providing humanitarian assistance to people in need.
Those carrying out such work, she said, should not be subjected to targeting, threats or intimidation because of their humanitarian activities.
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