Ceuta Leader Says He Warned Government Before Migrant Surge
Listen to the story
Juan Vivas, the leader of the Spanish city of Ceuta, says he warned the national government three days before a large group of migrants arrived there.
According to Vivas, he called Moncloa, the office of the Spanish government, on Monday, August 27. He says officials told him to stay calm.
The next day, Tuesday, Vivas requested that the government declare a State of Alarm, a special legal measure used during serious emergencies in Spain.
On Wednesday, he says he was told there was no basis for such a measure, meaning officials saw no clear reason to act.
On Thursday, a large number of migrants arrived in Ceuta at once. Vivas described this as an avalanche, meaning a sudden, overwhelming arrival.
Vivas has called the government's response "incomprehensible", saying it made no sense given his earlier warnings.
He also said Ceuta, a small city on the coast of North Africa, is particularly vulnerable to sudden increases in migrant arrivals and needs quick support from Madrid.
Vivas's account suggests a gap between local warnings and the national government's actions in the days before the arrival.
Vocabulary10 words
- Moncloa
- the place where the Spanish government works
- State of Alarm
- a special legal measure used in Spain during serious emergencies
- basis
- a good reason for doing something
- avalanche
- a sudden, very large arrival of people or things
- incomprehensible
- impossible to understand or make sense of
- vulnerable
- easily affected by problems or danger
- warned
- told someone about a danger before it happens
- declare
- to officially say something is true or in effect
- measure
- an action taken to deal with a problem
- response
- an answer or reaction to something
Quiz
Answer key
1. A State of Alarm 2. There was no basis for the measure 3. True
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Juan Vivas, the leader of the Spanish city of _____, says he warned the national government three days before migrants arrived.
According to Vivas, he called _____, the office of the Spanish government, on Monday, August 27.
He says officials told him to stay _____.
The next day, Vivas requested that the government declare a _____.
This is a special legal measure used during serious _____ in Spain.
On Wednesday, he says he was told there was no _____ for such a measure.
On Thursday, a large number of _____ arrived in Ceuta at once.
Vivas described this as an _____.
He has called the government's response "_____."
Discussion questions
- Why might local leaders and national governments disagree about when to act in an emergency?
- What does the State of Alarm allow a government to do, in your opinion?
- How might advance warnings help prevent problems like the one described?
- Do you think local officials should have more power to act quickly in emergencies? Why or why not?