What Ceuta doesn’t show
Why the ELM looks beyond the headlines to examine the root causes of displacement in the long term.
By the end of July 2026, around 50,000 people reached the Spanish exclave of Ceuta on the North African coast. Within a few days, the reception facilities were stretched to their limits. Spain deployed the military, the EU’s interior ministers convened for a crisis meeting, and Italy temporarily suspended the Schengen rules in relation to Spain. At least 72 people died on the Spanish side of the border and eleven on the Moroccan side.
The trigger for this development was, according to the Spanish government, a ruling by the Supreme Court stating that people arriving by sea must first be granted a hearing before they can be turned back. The news spread rapidly via social media and people-smuggling networks. Videos gave the impression that crossing the border into Ceuta was straightforward. Within a few days, the number of arrivals skyrocketed. However, a large proportion of them returned to Morocco shortly afterwards.
The television footage from Ceuta sparked discussions across Europe about migration and border security. Some political figures exploited the situation to warn that Europe was allegedly being overwhelmed. Other countries announced additional border controls. The images were striking – but they explained only a small part of what lies behind global refugee movements.
The ELM takes a broader view
The events in Ceuta show how quickly a situation at an external border can come to a head. However, they do not answer the question of why people leave their homelands in the first place. Those fleeing Ethiopia, Malawi or other countries in southern Africa usually do so because of war, violence, the consequences of climate change, a lack of prospects for a decent life and employment, or political instability. These developments take place long before people reach a European border.
At the same time, Ceuta highlights just how different perceptions can be from the actual situation. Due to the special legal status of Ceuta and Melilla, most of those arriving were unable to travel on to the Spanish mainland or other EU countries without further formalities. Nevertheless, images of a seemingly open border dominated public debate for days.
Border security is one of the tasks of a state. However, it does not, on its own, answer the fundamental questions surrounding flight and migration. “Anyone who wants to bring about lasting change must also address the living conditions in the regions of origin,” says Dr Mirjam Laaser, Head of the Department for International Church Cooperation (IKZ) at the Ev.-luth. Mission in Lower Saxony (ELM).
“This includes reliable educational opportunities, economic prospects, peace-building, due process under the rule of law, orderly migration channels and factual information that counters rumours and misinformation.”
This is precisely where the ELM and its partner churches are active
For more than ten years, the ELM, together with its partner churches in Ethiopia, Malawi and the Republic of South Africa, has been committed to long-term cooperation. With special funding from the Regional Synod, seven projects that assist people in difficult life situations address the root causes of displacement are currently being supported.
In northern Ethiopia, families who have been forced to flee their villages as a result of armed attacks are initially provided with aid to help them survive. At the same time, the partners provide long-term support to help them regain the ability to manage their daily lives independently. Other projects strengthen educational provision, support communities in adapting to climate change, or open up new prospects for young people’s futures.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), more than 117 million people worldwide are now refugees or internally displaced. However, most of them never reach Europe. They remain in their region of origin or seek protection in neighbouring countries. “There, functioning schools, church communities, local support structures and economic opportunities often determine whether people find new hope,” emphasises Mirjam Laaser. “This is precisely where the ELM’s cooperation with its church partners comes in.”
Ceuta serves as a reminder of why the ELM takes a long-term approach
News from Ceuta will disappear from the headlines once again. The reasons why people are forced to leave their homes, however, remain.
That is why our responsibility does not end at Europe’s external borders. Short-term measures can alleviate acute situations. Long-term change, however, occurs where people can develop prospects for the future and communities can be strengthened.
The ELM, together with its partner churches, has been working in precisely these places for many years. Not in response to individual crises, but out of the conviction that sustainable partnerships can help people shape their future within their own communities. The events in Ceuta highlight just how important this work remains.
