Seventeen-year-old Ikram shared with CBC that she found herself back on the streets after a brief respite in Ceuta, a Spanish enclave. Following a challenging period of sleeping in various makeshift locations, including a forest and an abandoned bathhouse, she had briefly found shelter with a family who needed her assistance with their children. However, the temporary arrangement ended when work opportunities dried up.

Ikram had left her hometown of Fnideq in late July, along with thousands of Moroccans and migrants from other regions, aiming to cross into Ceuta in search of potential legal residency in Europe. Expressing discontent with the limited opportunities in Morocco, Ikram highlighted her family’s financial struggles, with her father working as a tailor for meager wages.

While many migrants returned to Morocco shortly after the surge in July, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez confirmed that around 5,000 individuals remained in Ceuta, with local authorities estimating a higher figure of 9,000 within the enclave’s vicinity.

Among those who stayed behind, there are numerous unaccompanied minors facing precarious living conditions, including Ikram. According to Save the Children Spain’s migration specialist, Jennifer Zuppiroli, the Spanish Ministry of the Interior has officially registered 2,500 minors in Ceuta, although the actual count could be significantly higher. Zuppiroli emphasized that many minors, particularly girls under 13, are awaiting identification and support services.

Despite the challenging circumstances, Ikram expressed her determination to remain in Ceuta to pursue a better future that would enable her to support her family. Meanwhile, the situation for minors, both accompanied and unaccompanied, in Ceuta has been described as dire, with reports of violence and instability on the streets.

The story of Ikram’s arduous journey to Ceuta, fraught with risks and uncertainties, sheds light on the struggles faced by migrants seeking better opportunities in Europe.