Our sisters in Ceuta are witnessing how thousands of people arriving from Morocco and various countries in sub-Saharan Africa—many of whom come from contexts marked by war, violence, or serious conflicts—have sought protection, safety, and the opportunity to build a better future at our borders. They have traveled extremely arduous and dangerous migration routes, marked by violence, exploitation, and the lack of legal and safe ways to migrate. Weeks after their arrival, they lack sufficient access to water, food, and healthcare; they sleep outdoors, endure high temperatures, and live in undignified conditions, without sufficient access to basic resources and without an adequate response to their most basic needs, and the reported incidents of violence and aggression further exacerbate their suffering. Among these people are numerous children, pregnant women, and mothers with young children, whose situation challenges us both humanely and ethically. We are deeply moved by their suffering, but also by their extraordinary resilience. Despite the uncertainty, fear, and abandonment they endure, many of these people hold onto the hope of building a more dignified life.
In this context, we echo the reflections shared by the sisters of the Ceuta community and the ELIN Association, who remind us of the importance of putting a face to people, listening to their stories, and approaching reality through encounter rather than prejudice. Harmonious coexistence is built when we are able to recognize one another’s dignity, value diversity as a source of richness, and commit ourselves to a more just, fraternal, and inclusive society.
Through our educational, healing, and liberating mission of evangelization, we reaffirm our commitment to welcoming others, defending human rights, and creating spaces where respect, dialogue, and hope prevail in the face of messages of division, rejection, and fear; we advocate for a society based on respect, solidarity, and the recognition of the inherent dignity of every person, regardless of their origin or immigration status; we believe that only through closeness, mutual understanding, and solidarity can we respond to the challenges of our time with humanity and justice.
We firmly reject rhetoric that seeks to divide society by invoking the defense of the public interest or the nation, and we condemn the exploitation of migrants by unfairly blaming them for complex problems. No one should be stigmatized, criminalized, or excluded because of their origin, culture, or immigration status. And we understand that these messages do not reflect the reality experienced daily by the communities and individuals who, day by day, foster coexistence, connection, and solidarity; nor do they help us address—with responsibility and humanity—the challenges we face as a society in order to develop just, measured, and truly humane solutions.
The reports sent to the various ministries and the meetings held with the relevant government agencies have not, to date, received responses commensurate with the emergency. We cannot accept as normal the fact that people—especially children—remain for weeks without adequate shelter or even the minimum conditions of protection, care, and dignity.
We therefore call for urgent, coordinated, and proportionate responses to the gravity of the situation, as well as policies that guarantee a dignified reception, effective protection, and adequate care for all those affected, along with legal and safe pathways for migration.
As a community of believers, we cannot remain indifferent. We will continue to stand in solidarity with, speak out against, and work alongside those who are suffering until all people trapped in this situation receive a humanitarian response that is just and respectful of their dignity. No one should be condemned to invisibility, abandonment, or indifference simply for seeking a better life. Ceuta needs courageous, compassionate, and humane responses that live up to the values we claim to uphold as a society.
Vedruna Province of Europe
The Vedruna Family is active in Ceuta through the Elín Association:
