In May 2021, the Spanish cities of Ceuta and Mellija observed an uncontrolled arrival of migrants to its water and land borders with Morocco. It is estimated that over 6000 migrants arrived in a single day followed by a daily average of 1500 people, who arrived by swimming across the sea border or crossing the land border. The influx emerged amid renewed tension over Western Sahara, a territory occupied by Spain until it was annexed by Morocco in 1975. The territory has since been disputed between Morocco and the indigenous Sahrawi people, led by the Polisario Front.

The Servicios de Asistencia Médica de Urgencia (SAMU) implemented 36 Better Shelter Relief Housing Units (RHUs) in support of their operations in the Spanish city of Ceuta on the Mediterranean Coast. SAMU used the RHUs to build community infrastructure and children-friendly spaces to undertake a series of activities with the migrant children on the Spanish border.

Read more about this project here.