Moroccans stranded in Spain to be repatriated in next 48 hours

Morocco is to repatriate its nationals that has been stranded in Spain since March because of the coronavirus heath crisis. The operation is expected to take place during the upcoming 48 hours, the Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita said, Tuesday, in Rabat.

Speaking during a meeting at the House of Councilors, the minister said that priority would be given to Moroccan nationals stranded in southern Spain, particularly in Algeciras, before covering others in Catalonia, the Basque Country and then Madrid.

The repatriation operation, which will benefit people with short-term visas, will later be extended to Turkey, France, the Gulf countries and African countries, in strict compliance with health measures, he added.

Nasser Bourita said that preparations are well underway for the return of Moroccans stranded in these countries because of the measures adopted in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a well-defined timetable.

An operation for vulnerable people

The Moroccan authorities are committed to carrying out the repatriation of these citizens according to a global and responsible approach reconciling their guaranteed right to return to their country. The operations will also be taking into consideration the epidemiological situation in the country.

Well-informed sources told Le360 that «flights, operated by RAM, are planned from Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao and Malaga airports» and will repatriate the stranded nationals. «The priority will be given to vulnerable people», it added. «People with a residence permit are not eligible for repatriation», the operation only concerns Moroccans who have «left the Moroccan territory within a maximum period of 3 months before the borders were closed and who are on a short-term visa».

The operation is not the first of its kind. Earlier in June, Morocco repatriated two groups of Moroccans stranded in Algeria. 600 Moroccans were brought home via six RAM flights from Algiers and Oran. The repatriated nationals are currently quarantined in hotels in northeastern Morocco.

Morocco had also repatriated nationals stranded in Ceuta and Melilla, exclusively opening the land border to bring them home.