Undocumented Moroccan Man Denied Vital Medical Care in Spanish Enclave of Melilla

Amine’s case must provoke a reaction. Originally from Ouarzazate, he had long roamed the city before going to Melilla a year ago. However, he will find no solution to his health problems. With failing kidneys, he must regularly undergo dialysis or risk seeing his health deteriorate.

Admitted to the hospital, he was nevertheless unable to stay there, as his papers were not in order. "I’m very afraid of dying, if they deport me to Morocco because there I not only don’t have access to dialysis, but I also sleep on the street and I can’t even shower. Which is very prohibited in the case of this disease. What I want is to have papers to have access to care. That’s all I want," he said before the tragedy.

Cadena Ser, a very popular radio station in Spain, mentioned his case and contacted his family in Morocco. "We don’t know why he was thrown out and we are concerned about his health and are waiting for reassuring news from the hospital, where he is in a coma," explains Youssef, a relative of the family, who says he is finalizing a file for a kidney transplant.

Questioned by Cadena Ser, an activist association indicates that he had very early reported Amine’s case to the authorities, without any follow-up. According to him, he had been expelled from the center when he came of age, while the country was in full confinement. He should have, according to him, been transferred to the peninsula given his very fragile state. Since last Sunday, he has been in a coma and, according to the doctors, his health does not encourage optimism.