Protest in Ceuta Blocks Red Cross Food Delivery for Migrants
Residents of Ceuta, a Spanish city on the North African coast, staged a protest to stop the Red Cross from delivering food to migrants. Demonstrators organised a sit-in, sitting on the road to physically block the aid group's vehicles.
During the protest, one demonstrator shouted, "The Red Cross is a mafia!" This comment shows the strong hostility some local people feel towards organisations that support migrants in the city.
The sit-in itself was described as peaceful, with protesters using their bodies rather than violence to stop the delivery of food. However, the situation later grew more tense.
According to reports, protesters set fire to migrant camps on a beach in Ceuta. These camps are informal settlements where migrants often live while waiting for help or for their situation to be resolved.
Ceuta, along with Melilla, is one of two Spanish cities on the African continent. Because of its location, it has long been a point of arrival for migrants trying to reach Europe. This has often created tension between local residents and newly arrived migrants.
The Red Cross regularly works in Ceuta, providing humanitarian support such as food and basic supplies to migrants. Its role has now become a source of controversy, with some residents accusing the organisation of encouraging more migration.
The protest highlights growing frustration among some residents about migration in the city. No further details have been given about arrests or the exact number of people involved in either the sit-in or the burning of the camps.
Vocabulary10 words
- sit-in
- a protest where people sit down to block something
- hostility
- strong unfriendly feelings
- peaceful
- calm, without violence
- tense
- full of worry or anger
- migrants
- people who move to live in another country
- humanitarian
- related to helping people in need
- controversy
- public disagreement about something
- protest
- a public show of disagreement
- settlement
- a place where people live, often temporary
- resolve
- to fix or settle a problem
Quiz
Answer key
1. The Red Cross delivering food to migrants 2. Peaceful 3. True
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Residents of Ceuta staged a protest to stop the Red Cross from delivering _____ to migrants.
Demonstrators organised a _____, sitting on the road to block the aid group's vehicles.
One demonstrator shouted, "The Red Cross is a _____!"
This comment shows the strong _____ some local people feel.
The sit-in itself was described as _____.
The situation later grew more _____.
Protesters set fire to migrant _____ on a beach in Ceuta.
Ceuta has long been a point of arrival for _____ trying to reach Europe.
The Red Cross provides _____ support such as food to migrants.
Its role has now become a source of _____.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think some residents feel angry about aid being given to migrants?
- Do you think peaceful protests like a sit-in are an effective way to express opinions?
- What responsibilities do you think organisations like the Red Cross have towards migrants?
- How can cities like Ceuta manage tension between residents and newly arrived migrants?