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Photos: Surge of African migrants trying to enter Spain

March 20, 2014 11:44AM ET

Refugees increase at a holding center in the North African enclave of Melilla

Topics:
International
Refugees
Morocco
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Morocco Spain Melilla refugees
A 24-year-old migrant from Mali stands outside a refugee center in Spain’s north African enclave Melilla, Wednesday, March 19, 2014. Hundreds of migrants stormed the fences separating the enclave from Morocco on Tuesday, the largest surge in years. Juan Median/Reuters
Morocco Spain Melilla refugees
The Melilla enclave is surrounded by a chain link fence more than 20 feet high. A similar enclave, Ceuta, is similarly walled off. Jesus Blasco de Avellaneda/Reuters
Morocco Spain Melilla refugees
Many are injured as the scale the fence. Here, one wounded migrant is aided by others after making the climb on Tuesday. J. Rios/EPA
Morocco Spain Melilla refugees
Once inside the refugee center, the migrants have been able to receive humanitarian aid. Juan Median/Reuters
Morocco Spain Melilla refugees
The migrants do not possess travel documents, so they must wait in the camps until their identities can be confirmed and they are moved. Juan Median/Reuters
Morocco Spain Melilla refugees
A migrant has his head shaved. Because Spain does not have treaties with many of the countries the migrants come from, they cannot be deported. Some make it to continental Spain and beyond. Juan Median/Reuters
Morocco Spain Melilla refugees
The migrants stand in a queue as they wait to receive temporary identity cards for their stay at the refugee centre. Juan Medina/Reuters
Morocco Spain Melilla refugees
A plain-clothes police officer hands out temporary identity cards. Juan Medina/Reuters
Morocco Spain Melilla refugees
The surge of migrants to the enclaves has dramatically increased in the last year, for reasons which remain obscure. Juan Medina/Reuters