Hundreds of migrants return to Ceuta beach settlement

Hundreds of migrants have returned to a beach settlement in Ceuta, forcing the suspension of a planned cleaning and disinfection operation.

Around 500 people returned to the El Trampolín area on Thursday, just hours after more than 1,200 migrants who had been sleeping there were moved to two temporary accommodation centres in the city.

The Ceuta authorities had planned to clean and disinfect the beach, but suspended the operation after the migrants began returning.

The development comes amid continuing pressure on the city’s accommodation and public services following the mass migrant arrivals from Morocco.