Hundreds of Moroccans Stranded in Spanish Enclaves Amid COVID Border Closures

The situation of Moroccans stranded in Ceuta is becoming worrying as time goes by. Some have settled with relatives, others have rented rooms, while several others have found refuge in a covered hall in the center of Ceuta. This last category lives in precarious and difficult conditions marked by a "lack of hygiene and food". The difficulties remain the same for Moroccans stranded in the occupied Spanish enclave of Melilla.

Their only survival remains repatriation. To do this, they implore and ask for their situation to be examined by the competent commission at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, so that the necessary action is taken as soon as possible. Le360 points out that several factors argue in favor of the return of these Moroccans. "They are not infected with the new coronavirus covid-19, and commit themselves upon their return to the country, to respect the health protocol of confinement that will be imposed on them by the competent authorities." The other no less negligible factor is "the epidemiological situation in the two cities, with the increase in the number of recoveries".

Relatively well-informed sources nevertheless specify that the matter is about to be resolved. "The repatriation operation should start shortly." Apart from Ceuta and Melilla, thousands of Moroccans are still stranded abroad, and "await repatriation after having contacted the various diplomatic representations of the kingdom," specifies the same source.