Moroccan Groups Urge Aid for Homeless Migrants Amid COVID-19 Crisis

The initiative aims to highlight the difficult conditions experienced by these migrants, which can easily contribute to the spread of the Covid-19 virus. That is why this call is being made to avoid infections that could constitute coronavirus hotspots, with the risk of contaminating passers-by or people working near the places inhabited by the homeless and migrants.

The call from the associations seems to have been heard by the local authorities of Inezgane (south of Agadir), who have decided to open one of the covered halls of the city to "welcome all people living on the fringes of society in healthy conditions".

In exchange for the commitment of the authorities to take similar measures in many cities, civil society associations and NGOs have traveled to provide sub-Saharan migrants and the homeless with blankets, water, soap and alcohol sanitizers. This is the case in Casablanca, Agadir and Tiznit. The associations call for the dissemination of the initiative, until the country has overcome the coronavirus pandemic.

There are more than 4,000 homeless people in Morocco, including 250 children, according to official figures for 2018. Civil society associations, on the other hand, estimate the number of street children between 30,000 and 50,000. The reactions of the Ministry of Social Development and the supervisory authorities are eagerly awaited for the protection of these vulnerable people exposed to the virus.