Report from Morocco – February 2018

THE SITUATION IN THE DIFFERENT CITIES IN MOROCCO

Tanger

There are constantly new people arriving to try crossing the Strait of Gibraltar. For the past years the majority of the travellers lived in the neighbourhood Boukhalef, but since the massive wave of repression in 2015 many of them moved to other parts of the city. Recently  many people have settled in the neighbourhood Branes, in the hills above Misnana

Nador / Melilla

The frequent raids in the forests around Nador continue. Normally women and children are not deported as often as men, however, it does happen. So far, the authorities  in Nador almost never issue residence permits to Sub Saharan migrants in Nador. Being a migrant, strolling around Nador remains dangerous, regardles of whether you have papers or not.

Report from Morocco, November 2017

Despite our continuing condemnations and publications via social media, we continue to witness ongoing harassment and violence towards Sub Saharan migrants at the borders. Increasingly in cities further away from the borders, women and children are becoming victims of violence and deportations alongside men men, something which we hadn’t been previously aware of happening.

Nador

On Saturday the 11^th of November 2017 at around 6am, a mixed unit of the Moroccan auxiliary force, national and local police, came with vans to the different camps around Nador where migrants are living (Bolingo, Zhountia, La Carriere etc.) They burned and destroyed all the tents and arrested migrants who could not escape: 70 in total, of which 57 were women and 13 men. After being arrested, they were taken to the police station in Nador, where they were registered and then deported by bus to cities further away from the border (Safi, Fes, Casablanca).

At around 7am on Monday the 13^th of November they came back to the same camps, where they repeated their harassment of the migrants two days earlier, this time arresting 35 people (20 women and 15 men). Five of the women had already been deported the previous Saturday, but as they were unable to defend themselves, they were once more deported. Each was given half a loaf of bread, a tin of sardines and half a bottle of water, with nothing to protect themselves against the cold.

In the early hours of Wednesday the 8^th of November 2017, 21 year old Guinean Aboubacar Diallo disappeared. His friends and family don’t know where he is, as he is not reachable by phone, and haven’t heard from him so far. Aboubacar was last seen at the police station in Nador, after he had been intercepted by the Moroccan Navy in the Mediterranean, where he was on his way towards Spain in a boat with 18 other people. After being intercepted, they were taken to the police station, from where some were deported by bus to Safi, but his friends confirm that Aboubacar was not in the bus with them. They don’t know if Aboubacar is still at the police station, in prison, or if he has been deported to his country of origin like many others before him.

Berkane

On Monday the 13^th of November 2017, we received a call from a woman who was able to escape the police, while she was at a roundabout with other women and their children, doing the Salam (asking for money) in order to survive. At around 10am the police came and arrested five women, who were taken to the police station and registered. They were forced to spend all day at the police station. At 6pm they were let out, and asked to tell the others that the next time they were arrested, they would be kept in custody for three days, and then deported.

Fes

Destruction of the camp

The authorities in Fes announced that the camp inside the city, where Sub Saharan migrants have been living for several years, would be destroyed on the 8^th of October. However, according to comments on social media, the eviction never happened.

Instead, they decided to harass migrants in the streets and at roundabouts. Every time they were caught, they were forced to spend three days in custody, and then deported to cities far away. As they had left the camp in peace, people were beginning to forget about the announced eviction of the camp.

A month later, after the government restructure, the authorities once again came to negotiate with people living in the camp, proposing to give them each a sum of money to find other accommodation with. This was clearly not possible, as the amount was far from sufficient to meet the needs of the number of people in the camp, regardless of whether they were looking for accommodation locally or elsewhere.
People are not living in the camps because they wish to, but rather because:
1) They feel safer when they stay together. The proposal by the authorities aimed to separate people, in order to control and restrict their freedom of movement.
2) They didn’t come to stay in Morocco but to cross, something that is getting more and more difficult. In addition to the sea and the fences, they also have to fear violence from the auxiliary forces controlling the Moroccan side of the fence, as well as from the Spanish guardia civil, who catches everyone who manages to get past the auxiliary forces and the fence, beats them, and then pushes them back to Morocco through the small gates in the fence.
Other migrants are imprisoned for three months, and then deported back to their countries of origin.

This is also the situation between Casiago and Tetuan, where violence and the harassment of migrants continues in the forests where many people live in camps, as well as in other places close to the fence keeping people out of the Spanish Eldorado.

Summary September 2017

Nador:

In the past month the repression and harassment of migrants living close to the border has increased, namely in Casiago, Nador, Tangier and Fes.

In Nador more than 400 Sub Saharan migrants, women, men and children, have been caught and deported towards the south of the country to cities such as Casablanca, Agadir and Tiznit.

During the raids, the “harlits” (the Moroccan auxiliary forces) destroy and burn down the shelters that the migrants live in, making their journey ever more difficult.

At the moment these raids are carried out four to five times a week.

At least nine people have died in one month in Nador: seven women drowned between Melilla and Nador after jumping into the water, when they were pushed back by the Spanish civil guard and then intercepted by the Moroccan navy.

The 24^th of September, two people from Burkina Faso died after being attacked by the Moroccan auxiliary forces with tear gas. They were part of a group of six people trying to reach Melilla through a sewage pipe.

Casiago:

Since the beginning of this year, after a huge number of people tried to jump the fences surrounding Ceuta, with more than 1200 people successfully reaching the enclave, more than 600 other migrants were massacred. Amongst those several were badly injured, traumatised, raped and robbed, and more than 20 people have died, whilst others have still not even been identified to this day.

We have witnessed the abrupt change in the Moroccan policy to control migrants, which now makes it possible to imprison migrants and deport them directly to their countries of origin.

On the 20^th of February a group of people attempted to reach Ceuta; 350 were successful, whilst others were detained. Two weeks later we got the information confirmed that one of our friends himself had been arrested on this day and imprisoned in Tetouan along with ten other people. In the prison were at least another 100 people who had been arrested under similar circumstances. After three months and some days in prison our friend and the other migrants were forcefully deported, without notice and with violence being used against them.

This is just a reminder that these actions continue, and for the moment we don’t know the number of migrants who are still inside different prisons in the country, but we have been informed that amongst those migrants imprisoned are even minors. We do not know for how long they will be locked up, but their situation is similar to the others, and some of them will be deported without anyone on the outside knowing about it.

The violence, the raids, the arrests and the deportations continue.

Tangier

The authorities continue to search migrants’ apartments.

This month we have witnessed and gotten calls from migrants living in these apartments who have been arrested and forcefully evicted from their homes, without being given time to collect their belongings. After being arrested they were sent to the police station to verify their documents, and some were deported to Casablanca and Marrakech.

Fes

It has been some weeks since we received calls from migrants testifying that the Moroccan authorities paid a visit to the camp close to the train station in Fes, where almost 1000 Sub Saharan migrants live. They came to inform them that they need to leave within one month, without giving them any answer to where they could go. The forceful eviction of the camp if scheduled for the 8^th of October.

 

Mass arrests, trials and deportations: report by our Alarm Phone friend

Our Alarm Phone member D. was arrested in the night of the 19th/20th of February in Ceuta (Spain) when several hundred people attempted to cross into Europe. He was in a group of 11 people who had already crossed all the fences when they were arrested on Spanish territory by the Morrocan Forces Auxiliaires (a paramilitary police force). At 4 am, they were taken back to Morocco. They were violently arrested, having stones thrown at them and being beaten. Some people were injured and more than 100 people ended up in prison.

The situation in prison was very difficult and D. couldn’t inform anyone about his situation because he was denied access to a phone. The authorities said that people arrested at the fences were „illegal“. This is an absurd claim as such, but our friend had applied for residency already months before, but in prison they didn’t give him the possibility to make a call to prove this. For the trial, the imprisoned were wrongly accused that they had used weapons (knives, stones, etc.) and that they had humiliated the Moroccan Forces Auxiliaires. The accused were not given an opportunity of defending themselves in court, they were only given time to introduce themselves. They were denied access to a lawyer under the pretext that they were in an “irregular situation”.

After being imprisoned for more than 3 months the Moroccan state began the deportation process. The country of origin of Alarm Phone member D. was obviously cooperating with the Moroccan state and agreed to take him back. He arrived in Cameroon without any financial support and without any prospects, after having lived in Morocco for so many years.
„My hope is that the others who are still in prison shouldn’t have the same treatment like us“ said D.

As friends and Alarm Phone comrades, we are very angry and we will continue to fight against these border policies. The responsibility for the ongoing violence and human rights violations that travelers face in Morocco lies with the EU that continues to finance transit states to prevent people’s free movement.

To overcome global injustice and this neo-colonialism, we must create societies in solidarity!
We demand freedom of movement and ferries for all!

Subsaharan migrants in Morocco / Algeria: Raids – Displacements – Arrests

Report Alarm Phone Western Med March/April 2017

Since the end of November 2016, the war against Subsaharan migrants in Morocco and Algeria has intensified. The Alarm Phone in Morocco is monitoring the situation on the ground in order to shed some light onto the tragic facts that have been caused by the repression of migrants: raid operations, arrests and mass deportations.

Everywhere, we witness the same facts: the violation of fundamental rights and abuses of all kinds: the theft of personal belongings (phones, bags, etc), the destruction of camps and material, the deprivation of food, and harassment.. These instances of violence cause forced displacement and maintain a situation of constent insecurity for Subsaharan migrants.

The operations for the deportation of Subsaharan migrants are multiplying. In Algeria, migrants are being deported towards the South, the Sahara, at the border with Niger and Mali. These deportations are carried out in inhuman conditions, migrants are abandoned without the minimum necessities for survival (food, water, etc). More than 1500 migrants were arrested in Ziralda (Alger).

In Morocco, deportations are carried out towards the Moroccan-Algerian border (Oujda region) and towards the South of the country. Several people we contacted after the raid spoke out about the violence they had suffered. This was confirmed by Algerian human rights organisations that reported these incidents.

Between November 2016 and February 2017, raids were carried out in the border towns and in cities at the centre of the country. During these raids, personal belongings were stolen (phones, money, luggage, etc). People remained blocked at the border in „buffer zones“, including a group of 47 people (men and women). Another group of 5 people, including one woman, tried to arrive on Moroccan territory but was arrested by the Moroccan authorities. These migrants have suffered from all kind of abuse as well as physical and psychological torture.

Thanks to them, the Alarm Phone has obtained testimony of the violence committed by the authorities between February and March 2017.

• Mouhamadou, 24 years old, Ivory Coast: beaten and flogged which has handicapped the fingers of his left hand

• Esseline, 26 years old, Cameroon: chased by the Algerian border guards although she was pregnant, she had a miscarriage.

• Cedric, 16 years old, Cameroon: had to stay at the border in a military barack for three days, deprived of his luggage.

Raids and forced displacement: the drama at the Algerian-Moroccan border continues

The militarisation of the Algerian-Moroccan border increases the risks for migrants. Along the border, the Algerian authorities have dug trenches (3 metres long, 3 to 4 metres deep), and on the other side, Morocco has built an enclosed wall. The Alarm Phone has reported 3 deaths between the end of 2016 and early 2017, and several wounded (broken bones) because people fell into these anti-migrant trenches. Apart from that, the border guards have started shooting into the air in order to scare migrants and force them to take flight which can have serious consequences. Some of the mgirants who made it to Moroccan territory were in a bad state of health, physically and psychologically.

After the attempts at crossing the Ceuta fences, raids were carried out by the Moroccan authorities in the areas of Mesnana (Tanger) and Castellejo. These operations resulted in the arrest and the deporation of numerous migrants. Some were deported towards the Algerian-Moroccan border, others towards the centre of the country, towards Fes, Tiznit and Kenitra. These deportations were conducted in inhuman conditions. The Alarm Phone has received testimony of violence and intimidation that migrants had to go through. More than 20 national and international organisations, including the Alarm Phone, have publicly denounced these operations.

The Alarm Phone has followed up on the situation of a group of 47 deported persons, and another group of 5 people. Some of them have a regular residence permit. Some are minors, two of them were at the Protection Centre in Oujda during recent deportations. Among those deported to Algeria, some managed to come back onto Moroccan territory. A group of 5 people, including a handicapped women, found themselves in the buffer zone for more than 10 days without water and food. Alarm Phone has verified this information based on videos and photos.

Tangier – Tetouan in the North of Morocco: mass arrests and trials

Thanks to information we received from friends in Tangier, we learned that more than 100 migrants were arrested at the Ceuta fences and are currently in prison in Tetouan.

When several hundreds of migrants tried to cross the Ceuta fences in mid-February 2017, the Moroccan security forces have chased and arrested several migrants, including wounded people. For more than one month they have been kept imprisoned in Tetouan. The Alarm Phone has managed to contact some of them by phone. We learned that more than 100 mgirants are imprisoned and that they were on trial in Tetouan. However, it is likely that their number is even higher than the number mentioned. The trial took place in a record time frame: those who were arrested on the 19th, 20th and 21st of February were sentenced to 3 to 6 months in prison. These rash legal proceedings did not guarantee any fair trial. The accused did not have any means of defence. Some did not have access to the minutes and documents. Translations from the Arabic documents into other languages were not undertaken. The way the detainees were treated is inacceptable. The prisoners have denounced the discriminatory detention conditions (no right to receive visitors, no possibility to meet with human rights organisations, etc)

Consequently, the Alarm Phone Western Med:

• expresses its support for the victims of this injustice and demands that all migrants accused of having “illegally“ crossed the borders be freed

• denounces these unfair trials and the violation of the prisoners’ rights

• calls upon the Moroccan authorities to respect human rights, guarantee better medical conditions and concede the right to receive visitors such as friends, if families and relatives cannot be present

• calls for the respect of human rights at the Moroccan-Algerian and the Spanish-Moroccan border

• emphasizes that this situation has been caused by European policies that are based on a strictly securitized approach

• calls upon initiatives, organisations and individuals to support these political prisoners by denouncing the lethal European border regime and the lack of respect of human rights on both sides of the Mediterranean.

Bozas and new tactics

05/12/2017: Between February 17-20^th 2017, over 850 migrants crossed over the six-meter barbed wire fences into Ceuta. More than 1,100 people attempted to cross in January, but the majority were pushed back, as part of the violent practice of “hot deportations” being carried out by the EU. Many were injured during these attempts, but many also succeeded to boza, and now begin to fight another set of racist and repressive tactics enacted by EU states on the other side of the border.

Earlier this month, Morocco threatened the EU with relaxing its border controls, in protest of the decision of the EU to separate trade agreements between Morocco and Western Sahara, touching a very sensitive issue for Morocco. The passage of over 850 migrants in recent days to Europe is a result of these threats, showing how migrants are used as political hostages by Morocco.

Remembering February 6th 2014

06/02/2017:At the start of this year the Spanish court ordered the reopening of investigations into the killings by the Spanish border police Guardia Civil in Tarajal at the beach of Ceuta that took place on February 6^th 2014.

Non exhaustive summary of January 2017

The war against migrants waged by Morocco and the EU at the Moroccan / Spanish border has resulted in more injuries, deaths and disappearances at the start of this year. Following the intense repression from the Moroccan police in the cities, camps and forests in the north of Morocco, many migrants try to cross the border, something that results in serious, sometimes deathly, accident.

The police, the army, the borders kill!

Abolish Fortress Europe!

01/01/2017

Malaga

First convoy of the year

52 Boza

http://cadenaser.com/emisora/2017/01/01/ser_malaga/1483274283_587119.html

Famara

13 Boza

http://www.lavozdelanzarote.com/articulo/sucesos/llega-patera-catorce-inmigrantes-playa-famara/20170101100039113130.html

Ceuta

First attempt of the year – of 1100 migrants – to jump the fence

First pushback of the year of 104 migrants

The first two deaths of the year

http://www.ceutaactualidad.com/articulo/inmigracion/alrededor-millar-personas-trata-acceder-valla-fronteriza/20170101075656035431.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVZnVBwBON0

http://www.medias24.com/MAROC/INTERNATIONAL/169702-Assaut-massif-de-migrants-subsahariens-vers-Sebta-le-Maroc-change-de-ton.html

http://m.libe.ma/L-Interieur-hausse-le-ton-contre-les-migrants-irreguliers_a82145.html

REPRESSION

Non exhaustive summary of December 2016 at the borders of Morocco and Spain

Repression, arrests, deportations in Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia to prevent migrants from settling and preparing their journey to Europe are all supported by Europe due to cooperation treaties with North African countries in the name of « development contracts » and « externalization of european borders ».

In Morocco repression and raids took place at the end of the year, there were deaths and missing due to a sinking patera. But as well 250 Boza in a attack of the fences by 400 migrants at Ceuta and some hundreds of Boza by sea !

And still the threat of reinforcement of the borders and threat of expulsion. Still just plans of building up the fortress Europe.

01/12

REPRESSION

Tunisia

http://lecourrierdelatlas.com/tunisie-tunisie-operation-de-deportation-illegale-en-cours-selon-des-ong-locales-6787

Almeria

11 Boza Algerians

http://ecodiario.eleconomista.es/espana/noticias/7999839/12/16/Sucesos-Rescatados-once-personas-de-origen-argelino-de-una-patera-a-33-millas-al-sur-de-Cabo-de-Gata.html?utm_source=crosslink&utm_medium=twitter

02/12

REPRESSION

Alger

1400 arrests of subsaharan migrants

http://www.la-laddh.org/spip.php?article1785

Almeria

18 boza

Helena Maleno Garzón heeft 3 nieuwe foto’s toegevoegd.

#BOZA

Convoy with 18 people (1 woman) arrive at Almeria

03/12

Deux pateras

Helena Maleno Garzón ‏@HelenaMaleno 3h3 hours ago Hassan, Morocco

Rescatadas dos #pateras en el Estrecho y Alborán que llegarán a Málaga y Tarifa. #Boza #FelizSabado

Alicante

November 2016.The borders kill.

After the jump in Ceuta where more than 200 people crossed on the 31th of October, the repression the repression is intense. And yet the borders are not impossible to cross as the EU and Morocco want them to be. Many pateras arrived in Spain this month, and several people have died or are badly injured after their attempt to cross.
The borders kill !

31/10
232 bozas in one day!

232 BOZAS IN ONE DAY

01/11

Almeria
7 bozas by Maghrebians
http://www.europapress.es/andalucia/almeria-00350/noticia-llegan-puerto-almeria-siete-varones-magrebies-rescatados-buen-estado-salud-20161101193853.html

Repression
AMDH (Moroccan Human Rights Association) – Nador Section (translated from French):
“Arrests of migrants continue in Nador. The number reached around twenty who were all deported in a bus yesterday the 1st of November around 5.30pm.”

02/11
Four pateras rescued by Salvamento Maritimo
Salvamento Maritimo (translated from Spanish):
“4 #pateras rescued by Salvamar Mimosa 12 miles from Cabo de Palos. 11 people transferred to Cartagena.

Motril
51 bozas

Rescatan una patera con 51 inmigrantes a 20 millas al oeste de la isla de Alborán

Gran Canaria
57 bozas

Article on situation in Morocco

Deaths, deportations and arrests: violence against migrants in Morocco – reporting for Open Democracy from a collective member, on how EU policy blocks routes to Europe for those suffering from the neocolonial and capitalist exploitation and nurturing of conflicts throughout Africa by western countries.

To donate, follow this link to our crowdfunder!

October 2016 : Bozasssss, Raids and Repression.

30/09

2005 Ceuta and Melilla

http://elfarodeceuta.es/2016/09/29/once-anos-la-noche-mas-tragica/

(http://www.migreurop.org/article857.html)

01/10

Almeria

50 Boza in 2 boats, maghrebians and subsaharans.

http://www.europapress.es/andalucia/almeria-00350/noticia-llegan-almeria-50-inmigrantes-rescatados-sabado-dos-pateras-20161001222152.html

Evictions in Boukhalef

[Français ci-dessous]

On Saturday the 12th of November, the police evicted the camp set up by migrants on the fields, known as “the forest” around the area Boukhalef. This happens one and a half year after the massive “anti-squatting campaign” in July 2015 and November 2015 , where SubSaharan migrants were evicted from their homes in Boukhalef, regardless of whether they had a renting contract or not. This campaign left many people homeless, and as a result some were forced to set up makeshift camps in the area around Boukhalef, leaving people even more exposed to the weather as well as harassment from the police. Today, as a result, many flats in Boukhalef are empty.

In the meantime, people managed to build up a camp fit for living, with kitchen areas and well constructed shelters. However, this was all destroyed during the raid on 12 November 2016 along with people’s personal belongings, leaving people without anything, sleeping rough, completely exposed to the cold and the wind. Some are now temporarily staying in the houses of  friends, while others are still staying in “the forest”. The reconstruction of the camp has begun with whatever material it has been possible to find in the area, along with some blankets donated by local > charities. However, the recent raid has left people in uncertainty about what to expect, and whether more raids will
follow.

Expulsions à Boukhalef

Le samedi 12 novembre 2016, la police a expulsé le camp mis en place par les migrants sur les champs, connus sous le nom de «forêt» autour de la zone de Boukhalef. Cela c’était déjà produit il y a un an après la «campagne anti-squat» massive, où les migrants SubSahariens ont été chassés de leurs maisons à Boukhalef, qu’ils aient ou non un contrat de location  Juillet 2015. et Novembre 2015. Cette campagne a laissé beaucoup de sans-abri et, par conséquent, certains ont été forcés de mettre en place des camps de fortune dans la région de Boukhalef, laissant les gens encore plus exposés aux intempéries ainsi que le harcèlement de la police. Aujourd’hui, par conséquent, de nombreux
appartements à Boukhalef sont vides.

Suite à cela, les gens ont réussi à reconstruire un camp apte à vivre, avec des aires de cuisine et des abris bien construits. Cependant, tout cela a été détruit pendant le raid ce 12 novembre 2016 avec les biens personnels des gens, laissant les gens sans rien, le sommeil rugueux, complètement exposés au froid et au vent. Certains séjournent maintenant temporairement dans les maisons d’amis, tandis que d’autres restent encore dans «la forêt». La reconstruction du camp a commencé avec tout le matériel qu’il a été possible de trouver dans la région, avec quelques couvertures données par des organismes de bienfaisance locaux. Cependant, le raid récent a laissé les gens dans l’incertitude quant à ce à quoi s’attendre, et si d’autres raids suivront.

232 BOZAS IN ONE DAY

[Français ci-dessous]

On October 31^st, in the early hours of the morning, 232 migrants gained access to Spanish territory, after 400 people in total tried to enter the enclave of Ceuta in several groups.

As for the so-called “violent” and “hostile” attitude of “many armed migrants with sticks” denounced by the Delegation of Local Government, few migrants had sticks and stones, which they used in defence against Civil Guard officers who used any means to try to stop them from entering Spanish territory. This was publicised, whilst it was ignored by the CETA and many media outlets that 32 migrants were wounded badly enough to be taken to Ceuta hospital in ambulances, after crossing and clashing with Spanish police trying to prevent them from crossing the border.

Mass arrests in Tangier

MASS ARRESTS IN TANGIER

[Français ci-dessous]

On 9^th November, the Boumla – the police – arrested people in the areas of Boukhalef and Medina in Tangier. One person arrested estimated that there were more than 80 people (all from sub-Saharan Africa) being held in the police station – including people with UNHCR papers and valid passports (having stayed in Morocco for less than 3 months).

Women were released in the evening, whilst men were kept overnight. One woman got sick in the police station and had to be taken to hospital, whilst one man was had been injured by the Boumla. The next morning, the Boumla released many people, and deported 18 people to Fez, over 4 hours drive away. Often the police take their phone, documents and any money the person has with them, so that when they are kicked out after a deportation they have none of their belongings with them or means to get back to Tangier.

Arbitrary arrests and deportations are a daily reality for anyone considered to be sub-Saharan by the Boumla, whether they possess the “correct” documents or not.

 

ARRESTATIONS MASSIVE À TANGER

Le 09 Novembre 2016, le Boumla -la police- ont arrêté beaucoup de monde à Boukhalef et dans la Medina de Tanger. Une des personnes arrêtée estime qu’il y avait plus de 80 personnes (tous subsaharien) au commissariat de police, dont des personnes avec des papiers de UNHCR ou/et des passports valides.

Les femmes ont été libérés le soir,les hommes ont été maintenus toute la nuit. Une femmes est tombée malade au commissariat et a été amenée à l’hôpital. Un homme a été blessé par la Boumla. Le lendemain matin beaucoup ont été libérés et 18 personnes ont été déportées à Fez. (4 heures de route). Souvent la police prend possession de leur téléphone, documents et argent qu’ils ont sur eux. Ainsi lors de leur libération après leur déportation ils n’ont plus rien pour essayer de revenir à Tanger.

Ces arrestations et déportations arbitraires par la Boumla sont les réalités du terrain pour toute personne considérée comme subsahariens même si il possède le bon document.

New publication: brochure VOICES FROM THE BORDER

NoBordersMorocco and AlarmPhone have published the brochure VOICES FROM THE BORDER! A collection of articles, testimonies, analysis and artistic pieces denouncing the European border regime and its inhuman consequences. The brochure, written mainly by North and West African activists, reflects the situation at the Moroccan-Spanish border in the wider European-African context.

You can download the brochure (in English and French, some parts in Arabic and Wolof) here: brochure_voicesfromtheborder_voixdesfrontieres_2016

If you would like to have some printed copies sent to your city/social centre/group, send an email to nobordersmorocco@riseup.net

Summary for September 2016 of crossings by sea and land and repression at the border between Morocco and Europe.

 

Brief summary for September 2016 of crossings by sea and land and repression at the border between Morocco and Europe.

In September, there were still many attempts to cross by sea or land from Morocco towards Spain.
Note:
-More and more Maghrebians (Algerians and Moroccans) try to cross.
-Two attacks at the fences: the first one in Melilla with 100 Bozas, the second in Ceuta with more than 200 people. In Ceuta they were met by heavy repression by Moroccan and Spanish police, pushbacks, many were seriously injured and deported to the south of Morocco. 4 people bozaed.
-A high number of “pateras” try to cross, it is often difficult to know the exact number. There are more and more bozas, but also more and more travellers intercepted by the Moroccan marine.
-Some questions arise about the faith of migrants arriving at the Spanish coasts: Some associations denounce detention of migrants upon their arrivals. At the same time medias present interceptions as “rescue operations”.

July and August 2016
1000 bozas at the Andalusian coast.
17 pateras to Almeria, 353 Boza
http://www.eldiario.es/andalucia/inmigrantes-llegado-costas-andaluzas-agosto_0_553995250.html

01/09/2016
Malaga
52 migrants left without care and arrested by the police upon their arrival.
Entrefronteras has added three new photos

AUGUST 2016: A non-exhaustive summary of passages, deaths or disappeared and of border repression between Morocco and Spain

Despite the reinforcement of the militarisation of the borders between Morocco and Spain a lot of people manage to sneak through. After information from mainly mainstream media 876 migrants passed the borders, 16 were declared missing and some boats got intercepted by the moroccan Marine.

Associations in northern Morocco claim the constant and intense raids and arrests that still take place in the cities and forests in the north. A new, quite worrying incident happened in Spain, the 30^th of august 52 migrants who arrived at Malaga have been taken straight to the police station after their arrival without getting medical assistance by the red cross. This was denounced by entrefronteras.

NOBORDER !

31/07
6 pateras, 130 boza within one week
Helena Maleno Garzón ‏@HelenaMaleno 31 juil. El Ejido, Espagne
108 personas salvadas en 5 #pateras (#Cartagena y #Almería). Magrebíes y
Subsaharianos. Nuestra #FronteraSur

SALVAMENTO MARÍTIMO Compte certifié ‏@salvamentogob
Tercera #patera del día y para el Helimer 202. Salvamar Mimosa rescata a
30 #personas. Llega a Cartagena sobre 17:30

01/08
Alicante
22 (10+12) Boza in two pateras
http://www.eldiario.es/cv/Rescatados-inmigrantes-pateras-costas-Alicante_0_543495833.html

Almeria
34 Boza
SALVAMENTO MARÍTIMO ‏@salvamentogob 20 hil y a 20 heures
Sasemar 101 ve quinta #patera 21 millas E isla de Alborán. Guardamar
Polimnia rescata 34 #personas. 20:20 en Almería

02/08
Tarifa
7 Boza
http://ecodiario.eleconomista.es/sociedad/noticias/7742347/08/16/Rescatados-siete-inmigrantes-de-una-patera-en-el-Estrecho-de-Gibraltar.html?utm_source=crosslink&utm_medium=twitter

July 2016: A non exhaustive summary

Still a lot of people try their luck for reaching Europe through Morocco. Although the majority of the travellers are subsaharan, there are more and more people from Morocco and Algeria as well who take the way via the street of Gibraltar these months.

Repression, raids and « hot refoulments » by military, the police and the Marine Marocaine, supported and financed by the EU and bilateral contracts with e.g. Spain become systematic. The raids take place in the forests of Melilla and Ceuta, the arrests in the bigger cities like Tanger, Nador or Oujda and again : deportations to Algeria !

It seems more and more frenquently, that the Salvamiento Maritimo leads pull- or push-backs : They spot a Zodiac and inform the moroccan Marine Royale who intercept the boat, even if it is already in spanish waters (e.g. the island of Alboran).

In the month of July at least 7 people went missing in the sea (2 bodies were found), one man died by the attempt of crossing the fences. Its rare that media reports the deaths, who completely disapear in the public conciousness.

The militarised fortress Europe continues the war on migrants at all the borders with so-called «  security measures ». The deaths, the displaced, the imprisoned and the expelled are just part of the « collateral damage » of their criminal politics.

BORDERS KILL

30/06

Motril

2 patera : 28+34 Boza

http://www.eldiario.es/sociedad/Llegan-inmigrantes-rescatados-millas-Ejido_0_532297788.html

Vidéo:https://www.facebook.com/salvamentomaritimo.es/videos/528272714025072/

01/07

Tarifa

10 Boza and a second boat with 10 migrants intercepted by the moroccan marine.

Helena Maleno Garzón ‏@HelenaMaleno 24m24 minutes ago

#BOZAAA 10 PERSLNNES #TÁNGER #TARIFA #Patera con diez personas rescatada en el #Estrecho. Otra con once ha sido interceptada x Marruecos

Almeria

JUNE 2016 : A non-exhaustive summary

More then 600 Boza could be counted, several mass attacks on the fences at Melilla and Ceuta : Their «  migrant pressure » continues despite the mobilization of the moroccan marine and their collaboration with the Guardia Civil. There where several deaths reported after violent interventions by law enforcement forces and a lot of people have been pushed-back where numbers are not clear. Our thoughts are with the families and friends of the victims.

Boza : at least 655

Pushbacks/ Arrests : at least 390

Deaths : at least 4