The Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, Elma Saiz, has communicated in Congress an increase in the funds allocated for humanitarian aid in Ceuta, which will reach 44.5 million euros to address the exceptional situation in the autonomous city.
"We have proposed an increase in credit that raises the maximum amount to 44.51 million euros. This increase responds to the need to strengthen the response capacity of the Administration to the extraordinary situation in the autonomous city of Ceuta," Saiz assured during her speech.
The head of Inclusion has appeared before the Commission of Labor, Social Economy, Inclusion, Social Security and Migration of the Congress of Deputies to detail the Government's actions following the massive influx of migrants to Ceuta on July 30 and explain the measures adopted since then.
In her speech, Saiz recalled that, in order to maintain and strengthen that extraordinary humanitarian response, the Ministry approved an initial emergency declaration on August 3 for more than six million euros, which is now being expanded with this new credit.
At the same time, she specified that her department is working to ensure that the expenses generated by this crisis can be covered through the extraordinary support instruments of the European Union, especially through emergency financial aid related to migration and asylum.
"I want to insist on this point because, contrary to what has been spread in recent weeks, the Government of Spain requested this aid from Europe from the very beginning," the minister emphasized, claiming the management carried out before the community institutions.
Distribution of kits and health assistance in Ceuta
Regarding the deployment on the ground, Saiz detailed that, through the coordinated device with the Red Cross, as of August 27, 93,650 food kits had been distributed between Trampolín beach and other points in the city, in addition to 1,396 female hygiene kits and 2,150 male kits.
The minister added that this organization has carried out 6,687 health care services in different areas of Ceuta, as well as 256 transfers to hospitals and health centers, within the humanitarian response operation.
Saiz has highlighted the role of the Red Cross in the autonomous city, which he has described as "absolutely essential" from a humanitarian perspective. He has also demanded that its work can continue to develop "with all the guarantees of safety and the utmost normality."
"The Red Cross is largely made up of volunteer individuals who dedicate their time and effort to providing support and humanitarian attention to those who need it most. We cannot allow those who carry out this work to be exposed, threatened, or intimidated simply for exercising their solidarity commitment," the minister has stated about the NGO's work, which "has been hindered in these days."