Spain Prepares for Peak Travel as Moroccan Diaspora Returns Home

Spain is finalizing the last details of the organization of Operation Marhaba marking the return of Moroccans residing in Europe to their country of origin for summer holidays. The Director General of Civil Protection, Virginia Barcones, recently held a working meeting with the government delegate in Ceuta, Cristina Pérez, to ensure that everything is ready for the first phase of the Operation, which will take place from June 15 to August 15.

Spanish authorities anticipate two critical periods, namely: late July and early August. "We expect significant flows in the last days of July and the first two or three days of August," said Barcones, assuring that all measures are being taken to deal with heat waves. "We have prepared everything based on the analyses and forecasts of the State Meteorological Agency, where we already anticipate not just a few days, but a few weeks of intense heat."

The government delegate also praised the "good collaboration" with Morocco to minimize waiting times. "We will always be very attentive, we will be on the ground, at the border, and that’s what we’re working on," she assured. In the same vein, the Director General of Civil Protection highlighted the "excellent relations" with Moroccan authorities, recalling that a few weeks ago in Cadiz, she held a high-level meeting in which about twenty Moroccan officials participated.