Lorraine Williamson
Dozens of people living in an informal settlement on the edge of Barcelona are being forced out after authorities ordered an eviction, citing a serious rat infestation and mounting public-health risks. The move has reopened wider questions about housing, migration, and the limits of emergency support in Spain’s major cities.
The operation is focused on an encampment in the Zona Franca industrial area, where makeshift shelters have grown over recent years. Local officials say the conditions are unsanitary and unsafe, with rodents posing a risk to both residents and nearby businesses. Around 170 people were believed to be living there before the clearance began.
A public-health decision or a housing failure?
City authorities insist the eviction is necessary to protect health and safety. Environmental teams have reported extensive rat activity in and around the settlement, with concerns about disease and fire hazards also raised.
However, charities and support groups working in the area argue the situation reflects a deeper housing crisis. Many residents are migrants or low-income workers who cannot access formal accommodation in a city where rents and property prices have surged over the past decade.
Barcelona has long struggled with a shortage of affordable housing. Waiting lists for social housing are lengthy, and emergency shelters are often full. For some residents of the settlement, the eviction has left them uncertain about where they will sleep next.
Valencia´s homeless
What happens to residents now?
Local services say they are offering temporary assistance and relocation options where possible. Yet support organisations warn that alternatives remain limited, particularly for those without documentation or stable employment.
Evictions linked to health concerns are not new in Spain’s largest cities. Similar clearances have taken place in Madrid and parts of Catalonia in recent years. Each time, the tension between public safety and social responsibility has sparked fierce debate.
For nearby businesses, the decision has brought relief after months of complaints about hygiene and safety. For residents, it marks another disruption in already precarious lives.
A growing urban challenge
Across Spain, rising rents and limited affordable housing continue to push vulnerable groups towards informal living arrangements. Barcelona, Madrid and coastal cities have all seen encampments emerge as housing demand outpaces supply.
Local authorities face increasing pressure to balance enforcement with long-term solutions. Clearing settlements may resolve immediate health concerns, but without sustainable housing options, new encampments often appear elsewhere.
The wider picture
The Barcelona settlement rat eviction highlights the intersection of public health and housing policy. As urban populations grow and costs rise, similar situations are likely to become more frequent.
For now, the clearance in Zona Franca removes one settlement but leaves unresolved questions about where its former residents will go next — and how Spain’s cities can respond to mounting housing pressures without simply shifting the problem from one neighbourhood to another.
Sources: El País, Cadena SER, Tot Barcelona