Officials in Morocco report that hundreds of migrants have been moved by authorities. Attempts to jump the border fences near Melilla occurred at several points on Friday. Across the country, more than 600 kilometers from the fence, ground reports indicate that at least 300 people were transported by seven buses. A large share were taken to district hospitals for treatment of injuries, while many others were left on the streets with scarce resources and depending on local NGOs for aid.
In the town of Chichaoua, near Marrakech, on Monday a group of 35 people were removed by the authorities. The authorities report that these immigrants were moved from Nador to this distant town. A statement from the region explains that after attempting to jump the fence, police placed the group on buses and drove them to this location. Several among them reported injuries and said they had seen a doctor, but could not afford medicines.
Other groups were relocated to areas including Safi, Khouribga, Errachidia, Fkih Ben Saleh or Taroudant. The Efe agency cited estimates that about 1,300 migrants were removed from Nador. NGOs describe the practice as a common pattern where migrants are detained in cities near Ceuta and Melilla and then moved deeper into the country for years. In some accounts, migrants say officers took their belongings and money, a detail that they interpret as a means to deter further attempts to reach Spain.
We are still suffering
On Monday, about seventy migrants gathered outside the United Nations Refugee Agency offices in Rabat. Most were from Sudan, Eritrea, and Chad. They described trying to jump into Melilla and spoke of injuries and the need for protection. A banner read Where are human rights in Morocco? They described police use of force and demanded accountability. At times, several individuals lay on the ground, and others mimed the experience at the Melilla fence to illustrate their accounts. They condemned the use of force by the police and called for greater safety measures.
Awad, a Sudanese national, said the group continues to suffer from injuries after the incidents in Melilla. He explained that he left Sudan seeking security, hoping to find a safer place. UNHCR has faced criticism for perceived inaction while stating it is monitoring the situation and seeking to ensure respect for fundamental rights and safety for migrants and refugees. The agency has offered assistance to at least a portion of those affected, though precise numbers were not confirmed at the time.
UNHCR issued a formal statement expressing sadness and concern about the casualties and urging restraint in the use of force. The organization called for protection of rights and a commitment to the safety of people in transit. The agency affirmed its readiness to support efforts to assess needs and provide aid to the most vulnerable, while continuing to engage with authorities on humanitarian protections.
Those who managed to escape
Other migrants who managed to slip through moved to towns near Melilla, as moving through the country without documents has become a complicated process. In some locations, officials have asked migrants to show identification before boarding buses, complicating onward travel. A group of around fifty Sudanese individuals arrived in a regional town and have since sheltered without stepping into public view, fearful of renewed detentions. Another group, consisting of at least forty people, settled in a camp with few resources about eighty kilometers from Melilla. A humanitarian aid worker described the scene as migrants running away from police buses, highlighting the current lack of safety and the persistent risk to those seeking asylum or better living conditions.