Spain Approves Plan for Annual Moroccan Diaspora Summer Migration

This plan aims to organize this important migratory movement between Europe and Africa, which takes place from June 15 to September 15 each year since 1986, in a "quick and efficient" manner. "It is an annual challenge in terms of preparation, prevention and response capacity," explained Susana Crisóstomo, Undersecretary of the Ministry of the Interior, who chaired the meeting of the National Coordination and Guidance Committee (CECOD) that approved this document, to Estrello Digital.

The special plan for the Marhaba 2024 Operation includes a fleet plan aimed at determining the number of ships, their capacity, as well as the number of rotations to be carried out to manage the flow of passengers and vehicles. It also provides for a provincial coordination plan for the nine Spanish transit ports: Algeciras and Tarifa in Cádiz; Almería, Malaga, Motril in Granada; Alicante, Valencia, Ceuta and Melilla, as well as specific road safety plans.

The preparation process for the Transit Operation has been underway since the first half of January. A meeting of the Moroccan-Spanish Joint Commission is scheduled for May 20 in Tangier, Morocco to finalize the details of the Operation. This year, the start date of the Marhaba Operation has been brought forward to June 13 to manage the flow of Moroccans in Europe who will transit through the Spanish ports to celebrate the Feast of the Lamb in Morocco on June 17.

According to forecasts by the Directorate General of Civil Protection and Emergencies, the number of Moroccans living abroad and vehicles will increase by 6% and 4% respectively compared to 2023, a year in which 3,219,618 passengers and 775,410 vehicles crossed the strait. As in previous years, the Marhaba Operation will take place in two stages: an outward phase (June 15 to August 15) and a return phase (August 15 to September 15). Significant flows are expected between June 14 and 16, August 1 and 5, and August 30 and September 1.