Rape of Five Girls Under 14 in Ceuta
Ceuta University Hospital confirms cases, Moroccan child protection organization demands urgent investigation. Emergency doctor describes situation as a 'health catastrophe'.
Ceuta University Hospital confirms cases, Moroccan child protection organization demands urgent investigation. Emergency doctor describes situation as a 'health catastrophe'.
At least five Moroccan girls under the age of 14 have allegedly been raped in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta last week, health sources confirmed to the Spanish media outlet El Pueblo de Ceuta. The cases were recorded following a massive migrant influx at the end of July, and in addition to the girls, the rape of a boy has also been reported, bringing the total number of minor victims to six.
Susana Ascaso, an emergency doctor at Ceuta University Hospital, confirmed in an interview that her department is dealing with cases of rape of underage female migrants. "It's not that we refuse to admit them, but we have no space for them," Ascaso said, describing the victims as 14-year-olds who remain on the streets because reception centers are at full capacity.
Ascaso described the overall situation as a "health catastrophe," emphasizing that her department receives an average of 300 to 400 migrants daily, while operating with the same number of staff and resources as before the migrant crisis. She also warned of the risk of infectious disease spread. "We don't know if people are arriving with tuberculosis, hepatitis, or other types of diseases that we won't be able to detect today," the doctor said.
An additional problem is the strain on the health system for the local population. Ascaso points out that "the population of Ceuta continues to get sick and go to the hospital," where two separate areas have been established-one for migrants and one for Ceuta residents. The hospital has recorded more than ten cases of sexual assault in total, suggesting the number of victims could be higher than the five reported rapes.
Spain's National Police have opened an investigation into the alleged rape of a minor who entered Ceuta during the mass migrant arrival on July 30 and 31, 2026. The child was taken to the hospital where injuries characteristic of sexual assault were recorded. According to the Spanish newspaper El País, the National Police's Family and Women's Unit is investigating five alleged rapes of Moroccan girls. No arrests have been announced so far, and details of the case remain undisclosed while the investigation continues.
Judicial sources add that several attempted sexual assaults were prevented by the intervention of local residents. El País also reports testimony of an attempted assault on a 12-year-old Moroccan girl-a local woman intervened after hearing the girl's scream at night. Two other teenagers stated that a group of men attempted to sexually assault them.
The Moroccan child protection organization "Don't Touch My Child" (Touche Pas à Mon Enfant) called on Monday for a thorough judicial investigation into these allegations. In a statement dated August 11, 2026, they urged that the accusations be taken seriously and investigated urgently, and that those responsible be held accountable. The organization warned that unaccompanied or unprotected minors could be exposed to violence, exploitation, human trafficking, extortion, and sexual abuse.
They also requested medical examinations and psychological and social support for minors suspected of being victims of violence, as well as safe accommodation for unaccompanied girls and children. The organization called on the public not to spread unverified figures about the number of victims.
Jennifer Zuppiroli, a migration expert at Save the Children, emphasized the increased risk of human trafficking and sexual exploitation faced by migrant girls and adolescent females in Ceuta. The reasons, she notes, include gaps in identification, accommodation, and support. "An adolescent who remains alone and outside the protection system can find herself in a situation of great vulnerability," Zuppiroli highlighted.
The National Police have prioritized girls and children under 13 in identification operations. The Minister for Youth and Children, Sira Rego, confirmed a change in the profile of minors arriving in the city, with an increased proportion of girls and very young children.
