Ceuta: 1,500 places for 8,000 migrants
Spain's government opens four humanitarian centres in Ceuta offering 1,500 places for an estimated 8,000 migrants, while spending on subsidies soars. What is the real cost?
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Four centres in Ceuta: 1,500 places for 8,000 migrants
The Ministry of Inclusion has announced the urgent opening of four humanitarian centres in Ceuta, with capacity for 1,500 people. Minister Elma Saiz presented the plan after meeting with the city's president, Juan Jesús Vivas, amid mounting pressure since late July. The measure is described as "temporary and extraordinary", but the gap between the places offered and the actual demand, estimated at around 8,000 migrants, lays bare the scale of the challenge.
The price of solidarity
The financial side soon comes into view. The figures circulating in the analysis of humanitarian management point to an expensive model. Last year alone, the Red Cross received more than 500 million euros in subsidies, 92% of which went to staff. Of that item, barely 7% is healthcare-related. Critics point out that 64 senior officials shared 4 million euros, more than 63,000 euros each, while the State pays 19.50 euros per meal that, they say, costs less than five.
The 'temporary' that becomes permanent
Three of the centres are state-owned, including the former riding school and the football pitch at the cavalry barracks. The word "temporary" raises suspicions: past emergency management suggests that provisional arrangements end up becoming permanent. For now, the equation does not add up: 1,500 places for 8,000 people.
And with the bill looming in the background, the question no one answers is how much it will cost to turn this stopgap into a lasting policy.
The Ministry of Inclusion has announced the urgent opening of four humanitarian centres in Ceuta, with capacity for 1,500 people. Minister Elma Saiz presented the plan after meeting with the city's president, Juan Jesús Vivas, amid mounting pressure since late July. The measure is described as "temporary and extraordinary", but the gap between the places offered and the actual demand, estimated at around 8,000 migrants, lays bare the scale of the challenge.
The price of solidarity
The financial side soon comes into view. The figures circulating in the analysis of humanitarian management point to an expensive model. Last year alone, the Red Cross received more than 500 million euros in subsidies, 92% of which went to staff. Of that item, barely 7% is healthcare-related. Critics point out that 64 senior officials shared 4 million euros, more than 63,000 euros each, while the State pays 19.50 euros per meal that, they say, costs less than five.
The 'temporary' that becomes permanent
Three of the centres are state-owned, including the former riding school and the football pitch at the cavalry barracks. The word "temporary" raises suspicions: past emergency management suggests that provisional arrangements end up becoming permanent. For now, the equation does not add up: 1,500 places for 8,000 people.
And with the bill looming in the background, the question no one answers is how much it will cost to turn this stopgap into a lasting policy.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (12 replies).
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