Rabat – Most Moroccans have left Ukraine amid the Ukrainian-Russian crisis, a government source told Morocco World News (MWN).
The source added that nearly 10,000 Moroccans have left Ukraine since February 14.
Out of the total number, 7,000 left the country since the outbreak of armed hostilities on February 24.
The Moroccan government deployed consular teams in Ukraine’s neighboring countries to welcome and assist Moroccans wishing to return home.
The source emphasized that the consular teams have not recorded any more arrivals of Moroccans.
“The highest number of Moroccan arrivals was recorded between February 26 and March 3, with a peak of 1,988 Moroccans leaving Ukraine on February 28 through Slovak, Polish, Romanian, and Hungarian borders,” the source said.
The data shared with MWN emphasized that the number of Moroccans leaving Ukraine has dropped exponentially.
“It appears that Moroccan students enrolled in Ukrainian universities have left the country,” the source emphasized that the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs reduced the staff deployed to assist Moroccans gradually as arrivals dropped significantly.
“A consular presence will be maintained on the borders of Ukraine,” the source added, emphasizing that Moroccan embassies in the region will remain fully mobilized to assist Moroccans.
Morocco’s government has reiterated that it will continue to assist Moroccans in Ukraine amid the crisis.
Spokesperson of the Moroccan government Mustapha Baitas said Morocco s reviewing all options to help Moroccans, particularly students returning home and needing to resume their education.
Morocco’s Department of Higher Education put in place a platform to identify students and help them integrate into Moroccan schools. As of March 8, 4,885 Moroccan students registered on the platform; 70 % of the number of 3,744 students are resuming their studies in medicine, pharmacy, and dentistry in Morocco after their return.
