Spain cuts estimate of minors in Ceuta after duplicates found in database

Spanish police have revised down the number of minors recorded in Ceuta following the mass arrival of migrants from Morocco last month, after discovering duplicate entries in their databases.

According to the Interior Ministry, some procedures involving the same child had been recorded as separate cases, inflating the overall figure.

On 18 August, police said they had located, identified and placed 2,168 minors in the care of the Ceuta authorities since the mass arrival of people from Morocco on 30 July and up to 09:00 that morning. Following a review of the records, the figure now stands at around 1,500.

The total also includes minors who were already in the care of Ceuta's child protection services before 30 July. The Interior Ministry said the number could rise as ongoing identification procedures are completed.

For now, the minors remain in Ceuta while authorities consider options including transferring them to other Spanish regions because the city does not have sufficient reception capacity or, in some cases, returning them to their countries of origin.

Among them are children and teenagers from countries including Chad and Sudan, both affected by conflict and humanitarian crises. Save the Children has said some may be entitled to international protection.

The organisation has also highlighted the particular vulnerability of women and girls, who may face risks including forced marriage, sexual violence and trafficking.