Tarajal industrial estate becomes informal settlement near Ceuta

The Tarajal industrial estate near the Ceuta border has transformed into a dense informal settlement following a massive influx of immigrants in late July. Originally built as a warehouse zone for goods transported across the border, the area now resembles a favela, with hundreds of makeshift shelters constructed from tires, pallets, and cardboard boxes.

The settlement lacks basic infrastructure, including access to potable water and showers. The population consists primarily of Maghrebi migrants, including many women and minors living in extreme overcrowding. The cramped conditions, characterized by narrow labyrinthine paths, have led to reported instances of violence and social tension within the community.