Ceuta's regional leader has sounded the alarm over a migrant crisis that has left hundreds of unaccompanied children in dire conditions, warning that the territory's capacity to care for them has been overwhelmed. Juan Jesus Vivas described the situation as "absolutely unsustainable" and pleaded for urgent help from Spain's central government, as the influx has exposed deep political divisions over how to handle the fallout. Main Developments Spain has returned 70,000 of the 72,000 migrants who crossed into Ceuta from Morocco after July 30, but roughly 2,500 remain, including hundreds of unaccompanied minors. Ceuta's leader told public broadcaster RTVE that authorities are now caring for 1,100 migrant minors against a theoretical capacity of just 90. Vivas warned of "a high risk for order and public security" as reception centers are overwhelmed, with limited access to food, water, shelter, and sanitation. Spain's top official in Ceuta, Miguel Angel Perez, conceded on Wednesday that "there are still minors in our streets and that is a priority, a source of great concern." Read also: India's Parliament Demands Zuckerberg Apology Over Modi Video Removal Background The irregular migrant rush from Morocco, which began on July 30, infuriated EU partners seeking a harder line on irregular immigration. Ceuta, a tiny territory of 84,000 inhabitants, has long been a flashpoint for migration into Europe, but the scale of this influx has strained its resources to the breaking point. Save the Children estimates that around 1,000 "unprotected" minors are among the migrants still in Ceuta. The Spanish government has announced 25 million euros ($29 million) in emergency funding, and two schools have been converted into reception centers for unaccompanied minors, especially girls. Why It Matters The crisis has ignited a political clash between Spain's leftist coalition and opposition parties. Vivas renewed criticism of the central government's "late and clearly insufficient" response, while Socialist deputy prime minister Carlos Cuerpo insisted on public television that the conservative Popular Party (PP) and its regional governments "must comply with the law just like everyone else." Any redistribution of the children to other parts of Spain under existing legal provisions is likely to face resistance from regions governed by the PP and the anti-immigration, far-right Vox. The situation underscores the broader challenges facing EU member states as they grapple with irregular migration and the protection of vulnerable minors. What's Next The Spanish government has pledged emergency funding and converted schools into shelters, but the immediate priority is to get minors off the streets and into safe accommodation. Vivas has appealed for assistance from the rest of Spain through the central government, and Perez has acknowledged that the issue remains a "source of great concern." Whether the central government can broker a legal redistribution of minors without triggering political backlash remains an open question, as does the long-term fate of the 2,500 migrants still in Ceuta.