A massive operation to dismantle migrant camps was underway Tuesday in the Moroccan region of Nador, close to Melilla, where 35 people managed to enter illegally in a new massive assault, according to NGOs and the Spanish Prefecture.
“The Moroccan security forces carried out a total sweep at the massif Gourougou (on the heights of Melilla) since last night, and a thousand migrants are concerned”, told to AFP an official local Moroccan human Rights Association (AMDH, independent).
“These migrants have been gathered by authorities, waiting to be moved in twenty requisitioned bus,” the source said on condition of anonymity.
Questioned by the AFP, Hicham Rachidi, an official of the anti-racist group defense and support of foreigners and migrants (Gadem), said that the operation was “still ongoing,” and reported “several injured” .
“The regularization process is complete and the moratorium should be maintained since the appeal committee has not finished its job,” he continued, referring to the campaign throughout 2014 by Morocco.
At a press conference Monday, the Moroccan authorities have conducted a “quasi final” review of this approach, saying it had led to the regularization of nearly 18,000 migrants from a total of 27,300 cases filed. Possibilities for appeal exist.
In the morning, while the dismantling operation had probably started more than 600 migrants tried to enter Melilla, has in turn reported the Prefecture of the enclave.
Thirty-five have done so, five of whom were wounded, according to the same source. By late morning, 17 migrants were still perched on one of the barriers, added the source.
Spain is accused by Human rights organizations and the Council of Europe to stem upon arrival of immigrants, including sometimes violently, but they may make an application for asylum, a right under European conventions.
The authorities have recorded more than 65 attacks in 2014 in Melilla, against 38 in 2013. More than 16,000 people tried to access it in 2014 and nearly 5,000 have done so, against some 3,000 in 2013.
On Monday, the Moroccan authorities for their part said that “87 assaults” on Ceuta and Melilla were held last year, during which “over a hundred” members of the Moroccan security forces were injured.
Rabat also proceeded over the past year to the dismantling of “over a hundred” of human trafficking networks.
With AFP
