The migrants are mostly sub-Saharans.
Rabat – The Royal Moroccan Navy rescued on Thursday, August 29 156 irregular migrants, including 15 women and three children.
A military source told Maghreb Arab Press (MAP) that the migrants were facing difficulties onboard several inflatable boats.
Most of the migrants are of sub-Saharan origin, according to the source. Some of the migrants were in poor health. The royal guards provided the necessary medical care to the migrants, who were then brought safely to different Moroccan northern ports.
The pressure from the flow of irregular migration pressure continues, while Morocco launches concrete measures and initiatives to curb the influx.
As both a transit and destination country, Morocco is intensifying its efforts with international partners to strengthen border control. The ongoing pressure urged Spain to reinforce its activism at the level of the European Union (EU), which pledged €140 million to assist the North African country to contain migration flows.
Read Also: Spain Grants Morocco €32 Million to Support Morocco’s Efforts to Curb Irregular Migration
On top of the EU grant, Spain approved on August 23, €32million to Morocco. The fund seeks to support efforts made by the Moroccan authorities to fight against irregular immigration, smuggling of migrants, and human trafficking.
In addition to Thursday’s rescue operation, the navy has assisted many irregular migrants in difficult situations in the Meditteranean throughout the year.
On August 4, the navy rescued 424 irregular migrants in the Mediterranean. The list of migrants included 53 women and 16 minors. They were on board several damaged makeshift inflatable boats on Sunday, August 4 night and the rescue mission continued into the early hours of Monday, August 5.
The navy also rescued 63 sub-Saharan migrants on August 4.Irregular migration continues to cause frustration for the Spanish and Moroccan governments. The most recent irregular migration operation took place today, August 30 after 153 irregular migrants, originating from sub-Saharan countries, mostly Guinea, crossed the border between Morocco and Spanish exclave, Ceuta, today, August 30
