Casablanca – As part of Operation Marhaba 2022, the port of Melilla has constructed a giant tent for the first time to welcome travelers, primarily Moroccans from throughout the world, returning to Europe.
“The entire device for Operation Return is ready,” according to Europa Press, a Spanish news agency.
The installation of this new space will make waiting “more bearable” for the thousands of Moroccan travelers bound for Malaga, Almeria, and Motril, added the Spanish outlet.
“In the Maritime Station of Melilla, the area with a tent has already been set up to avoid the sun from the vehicles waiting for boarding, toilets have been implemented, the cleaning service has been reinforced, a prayer area has been set up, materialized the hiring of health personnel,” said Europa Press citing a government delegation spokesman.
“Because of the high turnover of Ro-Pax ships during the OPE,” the government source continued, “the Port Authority covers the need to pre-board vehicles, making it necessary to authorize a zone of shade, preventing passengers who make the pre-boarding in a vehicle from being exposed to the summer sun for prolonged periods.”
Read also: 2022 Operation Marhaba: Morocco Braces for Large Flow of Moroccan Diaspora
With a budget of 295,082 MAD ($28,313), this portable tent takes up 2,000 square meters of covered space in the passenger and vehicle waiting area.
According to Europa Press, the tent is adaptable, enabling the movement and parking of vehicles inside, something that was previously controlled by security officials.
On Thursday, the local security council met to discuss the return operation.
The meeting was attended by Melilla’s senior representative from the Spanish government, as well as representatives from the Guardia Civil, the Directorate General of the Superior Police, Melilla’s local police, and Civil Protection.
