Residents of Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta called for calm on Wednesday as hundreds of rallies were planned across Spain over the region’s growing migrant crisis. Authorities estimate that more than 10,000 migrants, including unaccompanied minors, remain in temporary camps, on streets and along beaches nearly five weeks after a major border crossing from Morocco.

The situation has led to frequent protests, with some residents criticizing the central government for its handling of the crisis and demanding that migrants be returned to their countries or relocated elsewhere in Spain. Recent demonstrations have also seen sporadic attacks around migrant camps, while authorities have arrested people involved in clashes with security forces. Local organizers said they wanted peaceful demonstrations and sought to prevent far-right groups from provoking further tensions.

Political disagreements have complicated efforts to find a solution. The opposition People’s Party has backed calls for stronger action, while the left-wing government has accused its opponents of using the crisis for political gain. Madrid has increased temporary accommodation capacity to more than 3,400 places and deployed over 1,600 police officers, but local leaders and charities say more resources are needed to protect both residents and migrants.

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