Morocco Resumes ’Operation Marhaba’ Ferry Service, Reuniting Andalusian Families

The cancellation of Operation Marhaba over the past two years has affected many Moroccan families in Andalusia, like that of Adnan, who has been living in Granada for fifteen years. "It was two very hard years. [...] I have my mother in Morocco and I had to visit her every two months. I had to take the plane and it cost 500 or 600 euros, in addition to what I have to spend to rent a car to go to the city...," she confides to Nius.

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Adnan also felt the adverse effects of the border closures on her restaurant specializing in Arab cuisine. "I opened it in January 2020 and in March, the health crisis set in. I found myself paying debts," she explains. Like Adnan, more than 3 million Moroccans residing in Europe were unable to go to Morocco during the summer holidays. "It’s not just Moroccans who are going home, there are also a lot of Spaniards living in Morocco," notes Ahmed, a Moroccan who practices the profession of lawyer in Jaén and also resides in Granada.

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"Our life is between two borders, and for us, crossing it is the prerequisite for reunions. That’s why even if it’s a very tiring trip, we do it with a lot of joy and enthusiasm," says Ahmed. And he adds: "In 2020, I couldn’t go to Morocco and last year I went there for 18 days in August. A rather short stay to spend time with my family that I haven’t seen for almost two years."