MADRID, July 30 (Xinhua) -- Spain's government on Thursday deployed armed forces stationed in the North African enclave of Ceuta to support the Civil Guard after thousands of migrants crossed into the enclave from neighboring Morocco, overwhelming local security forces.
According to several Spanish medias report, the Armed Forces will reinforce the Civil Guard in carrying out its duties and any additional tasks necessary to maintain security in Ceuta. The deployed personnel will operate under the coordination of the Armed Forces' Operations Command.
Thousands of migrants entered Ceuta on Thursday, many swimming around the Tarajal border area separating the Spanish enclave from Morocco. The latest arrivals have placed severe pressure on local reception facilities and security services.
Juan Jesus Vivas, president of the autonomous city of Ceuta, called on the central government to declare a national emergency and assume unified command of the response, saying the city lacked the capacity to cope with the situation on its own.
"The situation is chaos (...) It's not possible to give precise numbers, but there are thousands of migrants crossing," explained Rachid Sbihi, the head of the association that represents Civil Guard officers in Ceuta.
Spain's Interior Ministry said Spain and Morocco had agreed to strengthen coordination in response to the migration situation and accelerate procedures for the return of people who entered Ceuta illegally. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska is scheduled to travel to Ceuta on Friday to coordinate the government's response.
The Prime Minister's Office also announced that Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will visit Ceuta on Friday to assess the situation. In a message posted on social media, Sanchez said the government was mobilizing all necessary resources and working closely with Moroccan authorities to restore normalcy as soon as possible.
Ceuta, together with Melilla, is one of Spain's two autonomous cities on the North African coast and forms the European Union's only land border with Africa. The enclave has long been a major entry point for migrants seeking to reach Europe.
