We’re at a shelter for migrant children in Ceuta, Spain. Hundreds of unaccompanied kids and some families are lining up for their first meal in days. Fatema Ssdouri and her 12-year-old son, Obaid, are among some 50,000 migrants who crossed into this Spanish territory last week due to economic hardship back home. Most have now returned to Morocco. Those who remain still hope to make it to mainland Spain and start a new life. With no clean clothes, no medical help and little food, the long days in the hot sun are wearing Fatema down. Like most people here, Hafsa Ahmati headed to the border with her daughter after seeing posts on social media saying it was open. More than 80 people died trying to cross, according to Spanish and Moroccan governments. Hundreds of other minors are here without a parent. Under Spanish law, children under 18 cannot easily be deported, so they’re hoping they can stay. After taking in 600 children in just a few days, this shelter is at capacity. Now, they’re turning them away. Down the road, Spanish soldiers are hustling migrants back across the border to Morocco. Abdullah Hadji, who says he’s 17 years old, is doing his best to stay away from the soldiers and the border after not finding space at the children’s center. He’s got little more than a plastic bag with a blanket from the Red Cross. He’s been searching for family that live here for four days, but he has no address and no phone. He used our phone to finally make contact. Back at the shelter, Hafsa tells us that she left behind another child in Morocco. Now she’s torn between returning home or staying here for this daughter.
