World News
Burials begin in Ceuta for unidentified migrants who died in border crossing attempt
Eighteen unidentified men were interred in numbered graves following a border crossing surge from Morocco that left more than 90 dead.
The short version
- Eighteen unidentified male migrants were buried in Ceuta after dying during an attempt by over 72,000 people to cross the border from Morocco.
- A human rights group urged a halt to the burials to allow for repatriation, while local Ceuta officials said Morocco has not accepted the necessary repatriation documents.
- Thousands of migrants remain in the Spanish enclave as local and national authorities work to manage the humanitarian fallout.
Key facts
- Eighteen unidentified male migrants were buried in a local Muslim cemetery in Ceuta with graves marked by numbers to facilitate future family claims.[ABC News]
- More than 90 migrants died from drowning and stampedes after an estimated 72,000 people attempted to cross into the Spanish enclave from Morocco.[ABC News]
- The Moroccan Association for Human Rights urged officials to pause burials until the bodies are identified and repatriated to Morocco.[ABC News]
- A spokesperson for Ceuta's government stated that repatriation paperwork was finalized but had not been accepted by Moroccan authorities.[ABC News]
What remains uncertain
- The exact number of migrants remaining in Ceuta is disputed; local officials estimate up to 10,000 people, whereas the Spanish national government estimates approximately 5,000.[ABC News]
- Morocco's foreign ministry did not respond to inquiries regarding whether it is blocking the repatriation of deceased migrants.[ABC News]