Marhaba Operation: Moroccan Exodus from Europe Slows as Key Ferry Route Sees 20% Drop

Launched on June 15th, the Marhaba Operation has seen a slight decrease in the number of passengers and vehicles on the Algeciras-Ceuta line. According to data from the Civil Protection reported by EFE, between June 15 and 19, 13,205 MREs and 3,434 vehicles embarked on this line in 60 rotations, representing a decrease of 19.6% in the number of passengers, 18.6% in the number of cars and 24.1% in the number of ship rotations compared to the same period last year when 16,430 MREs and 4,219 vehicles had embarked in 79 rotations.

Despite this slight decrease, the Algeciras-Ceuta line is the second most used since the start of the Transit Operation, with an arrival flow of 32.3%, behind Algeciras-Tanger Med, with 42.2%, and ahead of the Tarifa-Tanger Ville lines, with 7.6%, and Almeria-Nador, with 5.2%. The Andalusian ports of Algeciras, Alicante, Almeria, Malaga, Motril, Tarifa and Valencia are participating in this departure phase of the Paso del Estrecho Operation (OPE) which started on June 15 and ends on September 15. It aims to facilitate the transit of Moroccans from Europe to Morocco during the summer.