CEUTA, Spain, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Hundreds of migrants set up camp on a beach in Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta on Monday as local authorities struggled to cope with the thousands still in the territory after a mass border crossing.
The influx began over the weekend when a large group of migrants, many from sub-Saharan Africa, crossed into Ceuta from Morocco, taking advantage of a security lapse. Spanish authorities said they were working to process the arrivals and coordinate with Moroccan officials to manage the situation.
Local officials described the situation as overwhelming, with shelters at capacity and many migrants sleeping in makeshift camps along the coastline. The Spanish government dispatched additional police and humanitarian aid to the enclave to assist with the response.
The incident has reignited tensions between Spain and Morocco over border control and migration policy. Moroccan authorities have not commented on the cause of the security lapse, but Spanish officials have called for increased cooperation to prevent future incidents.
As of Monday evening, thousands of migrants remained in Ceuta, with authorities working to identify and register them. The Spanish government has not announced a timeline for resolving the situation, but has pledged to uphold humanitarian standards while ensuring border security.
