– FNIDEQ, Morocco
Families continue to gather on the Moroccan side of the border with Ceuta the Spanish enclave in North Africa holding photographs of their missing relatives and questioning anyone returning. These searches follow a sudden mass crossing in late July 2026, when approximately 72,000 people, mostly young Moroccans, entered the territory by swimming around coastal barriers or climbing over fences. Dire economic conditions and widespread online rumors that the border was temporarily open drove this surge.
Most of those who crossed have already returned to Morocco. Spanish authorities estimate that around 70,000 people have returned, either voluntarily or after being escorted back across the border. A few thousand remain in Ceuta, including an estimated 800 to over 1,000 unaccompanied minors who, under Spanish law, cannot be immediately returned. Authorities have set up a dedicated office for missing persons at the border and urged families to file formal reports.
Between 72 and 75 deaths have been confirmed on the Spanish side of the border, primarily due to drowning or injuries sustained during the chaos of the crossings. Moroccan authorities have reported additional deaths within their own territory. Efforts to identify the deceased are ongoing, leaving many families without clear answers regarding the fate of their loved ones.
Parents, siblings, and friends spend hours by the fence in Fnideq, stopping those returning to ask if they have seen a specific son, daughter, or brother. Several family members recount that the missing person managed to call or send a message after reaching Ceuta, but that all contact was subsequently lost. Photographs and appeals for information are circulating widely on social media, as families turn to every possible means to locate those who have not returned.
As of early August 2026, the whereabouts of dozens of people remain unknown. The situation continues to evolve as recovery operations, identification efforts, and the management of those still in Ceuta proceed. Families continue to go to the border every day, hoping for concrete news about their missing relatives.