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ALGIERS: Algeria said Monday it was working to repatriate seven teenagers whose Mediterranean crossing to Spain went viral on TikTok and sparked controversy over irregular migration from the North African country.

During an official visit to Algiers by Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska, his Algerian counterpart Said Sayoud said “efforts are underway to return the seven minors currently in Spain.”

“All documents and information requested by the Spanish authorities have been provided,” Sayoud added. “God willing, Algeria’s request will be met in the near future.”

Grande-Marlaska said that request was pending a judicial approval in Spain.

Clips of the teenagers crossing to Spain from a town near Algiers, first seen in early September, show the boys cutting across the sea in a small boat, with one video drawing over three million views.

Another shows one of the boys, the youngest of whom was said to be just 14, patting the motor as a self-appointed captain shouted: “Spain!“

Many in Algeria have blamed their parents for allowing the trip, while others saw the incident as underlining the lack of opportunities for young people in the country.

Grande-Marlaska said the parents of the teenagers had requested their repatriation and “the procedure is ongoing in our country.”

“The Public Prosecutor’s Office is coordinating ... and will analyze all the documentation sent by the Algerian authorities,” he added.

The teens are reportedly at a juvenile center in the custody of Spanish immigration services.

Europe’s border agency Frontex said last month irregular crossings on western Mediterranean routes had risen by 22 percent since the start of 2025 compared to last year.

Departures from Algeria alone accounted for over 90 percent of the 11,791 crossings the EU agency detected on those routes by September. In a statement, the Algerian Interior Ministry said irregular migration was a “common challenge” between Spain and Algeria.

It said authorities had prevented some 100,000 attempts to set sail illegally for Europe from Algeria since 2024, adding that more than 82,000 migrants were returned to their countries.

This can include other migrants transiting through Algeria, usually from sub-Saharan African countries.

NEW YORK CITY: The UN Mine Action Service has warned of the severe threat posed by unexploded ordnance in Gaza, as displaced communities and aid workers begin to return to areas ravaged by two years of relentless Israeli bombardment.
Luke David Irving, the chief of UNMAS in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, highlighted the ongoing dangers posed by these explosive remnants of war.
“As communities and humanitarian personnel now move through affected areas, the explosive risk is incredibly high,” said Irving, speaking in Jerusalem.
“We know from decades of experience that when many other conflicts end, explosive ordnance continue to maim and kill. Gaza is no exception.”
His team has documented many cases of injuries when people encountered unexploded ordnance, he added, including five children who were hurt last week, two of them seriously.
“It is one of hundreds of stories of people, often children, killed and suffering life-changing injuries at the hands of these dangerous items.”
Since October 2023, UNMAS has recorded 328 incidents in Gaza in which people were injured or killed by unexploded ordnance. However, the actual number is likely much higher.
“We expect that this figure is significantly underreported,” Irving said. “More, and many more, people have been injured or killed by ordnance littering Gaza over the past two years.”
UNMAS teams have so far identified 560 items of explosive ordnance in accessible parts of Gaza but warned the full extent of the contamination will remain unknown until more comprehensive surveys can be conducted.
“We expect to find many more items in the coming weeks as we can access more areas under the ceasefire,” Irving added.
The threat posted by unexploded devices is expected to persist for months and years to come, posing risks to residents as they return to their neighborhoods to salvage whatever belongings they can, and children play in affected zones.
Humanitarian workers also face significant danger as they venture into previously inaccessible locations, and Irving stressed the important need to remove explosive devices.
“Humanitarian mine action is indispensable to pave the way for aid delivery and any recovery and reconstruction,” he said.
UNMAS has already reached an estimated 460,000 people in Gaza in its efforts to help communities remain safe, through in-person risk-education campaigns in shelters, health centers and within areas affected by the conflict. Its workers have distributed more than 400,000 flyers, stickers and other awareness materials since March 2025. But much more remains to be done.
“We need to reach the entire population of Gaza with these messages to mitigate the risk,” Irving said.
UNMAS also carries out technical assessments of critical infrastructure, including roads, health centers, water facilities, bakeries and agricultural areas, to help ensure the safety of humanitarian operations. These assessments have also assisted with early recovery efforts, including the clearance of an estimated 50 to 60 million tonnes of debris potentially harboring explosive devices.
Since the ceasefire began on Oct. 10, UNMAS has received nearly 100 requests for explosives-clearance support, about 10 a day on average, as a result of which efforts are being made to bring more technical personnel into Gaza to scale up operations.
However, longer-term recovery will depend on securing approval for the widespread deployment of critical disposal equipment, Irving said.
“We ask that this equipment gets brought in for the wider sector, and this will enable the longer-term recovery of Gaza,” he added.
Irving thanked donors for their ongoing support for his agency, and emphasized the urgent need for the expansion of humanitarian explosives-clearance action as Gaza moves towards recovery.