Morocco announces the rescue of some 235 migrants in maritime operations over the past few days

Moroccan authorities have announced the rescue of about 235 migrants in operations carried out earlier this week, according to military sources, who added that these people were on board several boats that suffered technical problems during their crossing.

These sources, quoted by the Moroccan state news agency, MAP, have detailed that a total of 236 people were rescued between July 17 and 19, before adding that they were transferred by Royal Navy boats to ports on the mainland to be handed over to the Gendarmerie.

Morocco is one of the main transit points for migrants from sub-Saharan Africa to Europe. During the last few months, Rabat has reinforced surveillance around the border with Spain, erecting concertina fences and digging ditches on the beach adjacent to the border crossings.

In one of the major incidents of recent months, at least 27 migrants were killed on June 24 during an attempt by hundreds of migrants to jump the valley as a result of repression by security forces, while denouncing the “excessive use of tear gas” by both Moroccan and Spanish authorities.