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The Moroccan League for the Defense of Human Rights in Azeghanghane has raised the alarm over the growing number of homeless children across Nador province, many of whom arrive from other cities in the kingdom in search of opportunities for irregular migration.
According to the league, these children resort to various methods to attempt crossing, including «death boats», sneaking into Melilla, or trying to board international trucks. The organization stressed the need to shed light on this phenomenon and examine the role of local authorities and relevant sectors in addressing it.
The group warned that the harsh social conditions and inhumane circumstances in which these children and youths live make them highly vulnerable to homelessness, begging, and risky behavior. This includes forming unhealthy relationships, using hard drug, as well as smoking discarded cigarette butts, scavenging through garbage, and sleeping on the streets.
The league noted that the situation has gone beyond social hardship and is now raising public safety concerns, with some children reportedly accosting passersby in the streets.
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In a statement to Yabiladi, Fouad El Bajjati, the league’s branch secretary in Azeghanghane, said the children are spread across the city, particularly near the border with Melilla, where they beg from people crossing in both directions.
He added that they are often accompanied by women whose identities frequently change, sending the children to beg whenever passersby appear. Their ages range from as young as four years old, with a constant turnover among the group.
Calls for a census and shelters
El Bajjati said the league has repeatedly contacted authorities, calling at minimum for an official census of these children. However, no response has been recorded, despite letters sent, seen by Yabiladi, to the provincial governor, the public prosecutor at the Court of Appeal, the prosecutor at the Primary Court, and the National Human Rights Council.
«The natural place for these children is school, not the street. At the same time, this phenomenon negatively affects the city’s image, especially for tourists who are surprised by the presence of begging children upon arrival,» he said.
He also pointed to the lack of shelters capable of providing dignified conditions, calling for their urgent establishment as a key solution.
The league concluded by urging strict enforcement of laws against the exploitation and endangerment of children, stressing that protecting children’s economic, social, and cultural rights is a collective responsibility that cannot be delayed.
It also called for immediate action to implement protection and prevention measures through a comprehensive, rights-based approach, including the creation of a dedicated shelter in Nador province to ensure proper care and social integration for these children and youths.
