More than 3,000 migrants concerned by the dismantling of the El Tarajal camp

The Spanish National Police, supported by army units, launched an evacuation and dismantling operation of part of the migrant camp located on the beach of "El Tarajal" in the occupied city of Sebta this Sunday morning. This large-scale operation targets one of the main informal camps that have appeared in the city over the past few weeks. According to the EFE agency, the camp has more than 3,000 migrants, while the local police estimate that their number could exceed 3,500 people. The operation began in the early hours of Sunday, with the participation of units from the Spanish National Police and more than 30 police vehicles, as well as armored BMR type vehicles and a VAMTAC vehicle, as part of a significant security arrangement. The first phase of the operation focused on the area near the desalination plant, as the authorities sought to evacuate the area and secure the surroundings of the facility. The operation was organized in several stages due to the large number of people in the camp and the insufficient accommodation capacity to host everyone at once. The people concerned by the evacuation will be transported by bus to the Temporary Reception Center for Foreigners (CATE), located in the Tarajal area, where they will undergo sorting and identification procedures before their final destination is determined. According to Spanish media, the authorities are offering Moroccan migrants transferred to Tarajal the option of voluntary return to Morocco. More than 150 Moroccans reportedly chose to return to Morocco by the border crossing after arriving from the camp, according to local data published on Sunday. A similar situation had occurred during the dismantling of the Benítez beach camp earlier in the week, an operation that was marked by disturbances. The operation carried out at "El Tarajal" takes place in the context of the migration crisis that followed the collective entry of migrants to Sebta at the end of July, leading to the establishment of temporary camps in several sectors of the city. The authorities assert that living conditions in the camp have become more dangerous with the arrival of autumn, particularly due to rains, sea winds, and the risk of storms. Spanish media have also reported concerns related to hygiene and water quality. The Spanish government seeks to complete the dismantling of the "El Tarajal" camp by October 15th at the latest. The operation takes place a few days before the planned visit of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia to Sebta on October 13th. The lack of accommodation capacity is one of the main obstacles to a complete evacuation, after the saturation of accommodation facilities has already led some migrants to return to the coastal areas. With the start of the dismantling of "El Tarajal," the migrant camp crisis in Sebta enters a new phase, as the number of Moroccans who have chosen to voluntarily return to Morocco is increasing. According to statements reported by local Spanish media of the Minister for Territorial Policy and coordinator of the unified action, Ángel Víctor Torres, more than 9,000 Moroccans have reportedly returned voluntarily to Morocco since August 10th. The dismantling of the remaining camps is expected to continue in the coming days.