Moroccan Family Searches for Missing Son After Risky Swim to Melilla

Radouane left Morocco on October 31, accompanied by a friend, towards Melilla by swimming. Since then, his family has had no news of him. Desperate, they contacted the Moroccan Association for Human Rights (AMDH) to help them find him, reports El Faro de Melilla.

To read: Moroccan Man Missing After Attempting to Swim into Spanish Enclave of Ceuta

Many young people of Maghreb or sub-Saharan origin try to reach Spain by swimming or on makeshift boats, at the risk of their lives. Last month, two bodies of migrants were found in the waters of Melilla. The judicial police of the Civil Guard continue the investigation to identify the victims and inform their families of their death.

To read: Deadly Shipwreck Off Spanish Coast: 8 Migrants Dead, 17 Missing Near Cadiz

The AMDH explained in its latest report that despite the crisis context between Spain and Morocco, and the closure of borders, the flow of migrants has not decreased. In 2021, many young people tried to reach the peninsula by boat or jet ski, by swimming, or by jumping the fence. Arrests and returns of migrants have almost doubled compared to 2020, the organization points out.