Imbroda pide al gobierno excluir a Melilla de distribución de menores no acompañados

The president of the autonomous city of Melilla, Juan José Imbroda, requested on Monday from the national government to exclude the Spanish city from the distribution of unaccompanied minors currently located in the Canary Islands and Ceuta. Imbroda stated that the reception centers in Melilla are already at high occupancy and have a historical deficit in their care, amounting to 120 million euros.

During a press conference, Juan José Imbroda detailed that Melilla supports a cost of «between 52,000 and 59,000 euros for each reception, which is equivalent to almost 5,000 euros per month.» For this reason, he argues that «the autonomous city should not be included in the decree» expected to be approved on Thursday in the Congress of Deputies, which aims to relocate around 4,400 minors from the Canary Islands and Ceuta compared to the rest of the autonomous communities.

Imbroda acknowledged that Melilla is currently hosting 195 minors, representing approximately 90 percent of the capacity of its centers, such as Purísima, Asistencia, and Centro Divino. In comparison, in 2018, the figure was 1.25 minors.

Although the pressure on Melilla has decreased, the president emphasized that the autonomous city faces a historical deficit of 120 million euros, which he claims from the national government. Instead of sending more minors, Imbroda requested that they «begin to pay this difference» between the money received from the state and what Melilla used to provide for these minors.

Imbroda stressed that «each minor costs us between 52,000 and 59,000 euros, and if more are sent, the cost will increase,» because, as he underlines, these individuals must receive proper care at all levels, not just accommodation and maintenance, but also education, health, and other needs for their development.

In this regard, he recalled that, after learning of the agreement between the national government and Catalonia, he protested strongly when he found out that, according to the pact between Puigdemont and Sánchez, Melilla would receive 34 minors, while Catalonia would receive 24.

Imbroda also mentioned that, out of the three reception centers used in Melilla, Centro La Purísima has an annual cost of approximately six million euros, while Centro de Salud amounts to 3,300,000 euros, and Centro Divino «represents a lower amount,» totaling over nine million euros per year.

Therefore, Imbroda expressed surprise to think that the central government could consider including Melilla in the distribution of minors from other regions, but it should be included as the receiving community to alleviate the serious deficit they face each year.

FUENTE