SPAIN: Thousands of hopeful African migrants camp for months at a Moroccan mount near the Spanish border waiting for the right moment to clamber over a seven-metre high metal fence that separates them from the "European dream"

Record ID: 348740

  • Title: SPAIN: Thousands of hopeful African migrants camp for months at a Moroccan mount near the Spanish border waiting for the right moment to clamber over a seven-metre high metal fence that separates them from the "European dream"
  • Date: 15th May 2014
  • Summary: SPAIN-MOROCCO BORDER (RECENT) (REUTERS) SPANISH POLICE CAR DRIVING ALONG FENCE VARIOUS OF FENCE FILMED FROM POLICE CAR FENCE DIVIDING MOROCCO (LEFT) AND SPAIN (RIGHT) MEMBER OF MOROCCAN POLICE WALKING NEAR FENCE ON THE MOROCCAN SIDE (FILMED FROM MELILLA, SPAIN) BARBED WIRE / FENCE PORTION OF THE FENCE REACHING THE SEA MEMBERS OF SPANISH POLICE WORKING AT SURVEILLANCE CENT
  • Embargoed: 30th May 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Spain, Morocco
  • City:
  • Country: Spain
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics,People
  • Reuters ID: LVABPUS8KEHA10TBWSHRU6J366XU
  • Story Text: A seven metres high fence separating Morocco and the Spanish enclave of Melilla stands between the dreams of thousands of African migrants seeking a better life in Europe.
    It takes just two minutes that seem like a lifetime to jump over the triple fence dividing Spain's North Africa enclave from Morocco, but they are two minutes full of risk and expectation.
    Immigration has always been a controversial matter in the European Union but with the European elections looming and the escalation of activity in the Moroccan-Spain border in the last months, migration has earned an important place in the political agenda.
    Some 1,074 people breached the 12-kilometre-long fences in the whole of 2013 and more than 1,600 have done so since the beginning of 2014.
    After travelling for three months from Mali through the deserts of Algeria, 17-year old Keita Mohammed reached Morocco and camped in Mont Gurugu just outside the city joining hundreds of fellow countrymen who are preparing to jump the fences or to swim along the coast.
    Poorly dressed for the rough hills of the Gurugu, they walk several kilometres every day carrying food and water from a small town at the bottom of the mountain to the camp.
    Keita is conscious that he is preparing to storm the border and knows it is illegal, but said sub-saharan Africans are forced to do so in order to seek opportunities.
    "If Africa had the resources and if it were Gods will we would never move to Europe. The only reason why we move to Europe is because we have to. Economically, logistically, technologically Europe is very strong, politically and I would say even morally they have the head. The big problem we have to face is that we dont have the resources," he said seated on a rock in the hills.
    Sleeping in improvised tents made from plastic bags and canvas some migrants expend up to one year of their life at the Gurugu.
    28-year old Nicola has been living in Morocco for two years one of them in Mont Gurugu.
    He had to leave his son behind in Cameroon in an effort to pursuit a better life in Europe as a mechanic.
    Blind from one eye after suffering cuts in the cornea in one of his three attempts to jump over the fence chances to succeed in his quest seems to wane.
    "We live very poorly in Gurugu. We spend day without eating. The best part of the time we hare injured. Those who wear uniform beat us. Im talking about all the black Africa, we are all victims. We are continually chased by Moroccan police. We always meet challenges both in Moroccan and Spanish soil," he said next to the camp from which it is possible to see Melilla.
    Spain has more than doubled the strength of security forces at Melilla after hundreds of migrants have stormed the border in recent months.
    Using CCTV cameras and pressure sensors Spanish police controls the perimeter from their control centre in Melilla.
    They can even detect the exact point in which the wire has been cut.
    But not event the dissuasive presence of police stretching from cost to cost can prevent immigrants from all over Africa to regularly dare the razor-wire fences.
    Melillas Government delegate Abdelmalik El Barkani said Europe had to address the situation and agree common policies to prevent illegal immigration.
    "As I said at the beginning we should have a common caring policy among every European Union countries with the countries of the migrants. Hence we would have a regularised immigration so the migrant willing to come into Europe will do it with his documentation through an official border, not risking his life, without the help of mafias and with chances to integrate in any of the 28 countries which form the European Union socially and in working life," he said the day before the European Elections campaign was launched.
    In February, the European Union asked Spain to explain why police had fired rubber bullets in warning when a group of African migrants tried to wade and swim to Ceuta.
    Fifteen died drowning and the shots could have caused panic among the migrants, according to Cecilia Malmstrom, the European Commissioner for Home Affairs.
    Many of the migrants who illegally arrive in Melilla had to pay around 1.000 euros (1.300 dollars) to mafias that help them travel from their countries to morocco and cross the border hided in false bottomed cars or small vessels.
    Once in Melilla the migrants are free to move and try to make a living by helping people park their vehicles on the streets or cleaning cars.
    Immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa usually enter Ceuta and Melilla without identification papers.
    Spain houses them in overcrowded processing centres in the territories while trying to establish their identities in order to send them back to countries with which it has repatriation agreements or conceding them the legal residence depending on the agreement.
    Although many arrive with prosperity dreams hoping to integrate the society and find jobs that would help them send money to their families, reality might be different.
    Spains youth jobless rate amongst the under 25s is over 55 percent and many Spaniards are leaving the country seeking a better job position in Europe and South America.
    Cameroon born Gerard jumped over the fence two months ago and has since been leaving in the temporary immigration centre "CETI".
    "Life is about decisions. Anyone who wants to come (to Europe) has to think it very wisely because he will meet many difficulties to arrive here. Many stages and obstacles for example death, death," the 18- year old said.
    He lost a friend during his travel from Cameroon to Melilla and knows very well the harness of the endeavour.
    Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday he joins hundreds of CETI residences at a nearby pitch where they play football leaving their problems aside for a few hours.
    "If God gives me the chance to be here and I make it to Europe I will make everything to become a good person for the society," he said clad in his football gear.
    Now he dreams to become a professional football player and perhaps travel to another European country where the labour situation is better.
    On May 25 Europeans are call to cast their votes under the cloud of abstention.
    A survey published by the Centre of Sociological Research in the daily el Pais on May 9 shows voter intention for the PP at 33.7 percent and 31 percent for the Socialists marking a significant fall from results in 2009 when the PP received 42.23 percent of the votes or 23 seats and PSOE got 38.51 percent, or 21 seats.
    Overshadowed by the economic crisis and jobless, perhaps immigration policies are not high in the agenda of Spaniards voters but with illegal immigration ascending to new heights politicians will have to work on common policies to favour agreements to regularised the entrance of migrants to the European Community.
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