More than 2,000 migrants tried to storm the border separating Spain’s Melilla enclave from Morocco on Friday, the first such attempted mass crossing into the territory since the two nations mended diplomatic ties in March.
The EU’s land border only with Africa was chaotic as thousands of African migrants ran across the field to storm the fence.
According to the Spanish government, approximately 2,000 migrants crossed the border by dawn. More than 500 were able to cross the border after constructing a fence using shears.
The majority of the migrants were returned, but 130 migrants — ‘all men and apparently adults’- made it to Melilla following a two hour skirm with border officials.
The Spanish riot police faced hundreds of migrants during the clashes, leaving 49 officers and 57 migrants injured.
Video captured migrants celebrating after storming the fencing and running through Melilla streets.
Melilla and Ceuta in Spain, the other North African enclave of Spain, are home to Europe’s only African land border. They attract migrants.
Fears of drought in Africa, rising food prices and shipping Ukrainian grain from Ukraine to Somalia and Egypt (and other countries) could lead to more migrants fleeing Europe.
On Friday, migrants scale the fencing that separates the Spanish Enclave of Melilla and Morocco, in Melilla (Spanish),
Crossing the fencing that separates the Spanish Enclave of Melilla (Morocco in Melilla) from Spain, Migrants now run on Spanish soil
After crossing fences that separated the Spanish Melilla enclave from Morocco, migrants run onto Spanish soil. Border guards are visible in background, trying to prevent the migrants entering.
It was chaotic scenes in the EU’s sole land border with Africa that showed thousands of migrants from sub-Saharan Africa running through a field, before they stormed the border fence Friday morning.
Over 2,000 migrants arrived at the border in the early hours of the morning. More than 500 people were allowed to pass through the border control zone after they had constructed a fence using shears.
Left: A Spanish officer detains a Mexican migrant who crossed the Spanish border separating Melilla (Spanish enclave) from Morocco in Melilla Friday
Video captured the migrants, most of which were men, celebrating as they raced through Melilla following storming the border fence.
The Spanish government said that at least 130 migrants had entered Melilla.
Melilla and Ceuta in Spain, the other small North African enclave of Spain, are Europe’s only borders with Africa. They attract migrants.
AMDH Nador is a Moroccan human rights monitor. It said that the intrusion occurred a day following clashes between migrants and Moroccan security personnel trying to remove camps they set up near Melilla.
Omar Naji (head of the watchdog) told Reuters the clash was part a ‘intense clampdown’ against migrants. This occurred after Spanish and Moroccan forces resumed patrolling the area and increased security in the enclave.
Morocco sent a large number of troops to resist the attack on its border. They ‘cooperated actively with Spain’s security forces on Friday.
However, a significant number managed to enter Melilla. It added that they were violently organized.
Spanish media images showed migrants with bleeding hands and ripped clothes lying on Melilla’s sidewalk.
The people who crossed successfully went to the local migrant centre, where they were evaluated by authorities.
According to government regulations, a spokesperson from the Spanish government in Melilla said that several hundred people were still gathered at the Moroccan side.
Sometimes, people fleeing violence and poverty make mass efforts to reach Melilla or the Spanish territory along the North African coast of Ceuta as a way to get to Europe.
Spain relies heavily on Morocco for keeping migrants from crossing the border.
More than 3500 tried to scale the Melilla barrier of 20 feet (6 m) at the beginning March. Spanish authorities say that nearly 1000 people made it over the border.
Friday’s crossings represented the first effort since March, when relations between Spain & Morocco improved after a yearlong dispute that was centered around the Western Sahara. Morocco had annexed the former Spanish colony in 1976.
After ending the year-long diplomatic crisis, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez then visited Rabat, and the two governments hailed a ‘new stage’ in relations.
Madrid permitted Brahim Ghali (leader of Western Sahara’s pro independence Polisario Front) to receive treatment for Covid-19 at a Spanish hospital. This was in April 2021.
After crossing the border separating Melilla and Morocco, thousands of migrants are seen walking towards a small group of border patrols.
On Friday, migrants climb over fences that separate the Spanish Enclave Melilla and Morocco Melilla.
Police officers detain a migrants who crossed the fencing separating Spain’s Melilla Enclave from Morocco on Spanish soil.
After migrants broke through the barrier and entered Melilla, a police officer can be seen looking over.
After crossing the fencing separating Melilla, Spain from Morocco, a migrant runs onto Spanish soil
After crossing the Melilla fence on Friday, you can see them running in a group.
At 8:40 am on Friday, 2,000 migrants broke through the border barrier. A’significant’ number managed to gain entry.
On Friday night, more than 2000 migrants stormed Spain’s Melilla Enclave border from Morocco. This was the first mass attempt to cross into the territory by this number since March when the two countries reestablished diplomatic relations.
Following a storm at the border on Friday, migrants were on their way towards a Centre for Temporary Residence of Imigrants in Melilla.
As he walks toward a Melilla Migrant Centre, a wounded migrant is assisted by his friends.
Madrid let Brahim Gaili, the leader of Western Sahrara’s pro independence Polisario Front to be admitted in Spanish for treatment for Covid-19. The dispute began in April 2021.
One month later, around 10,000 migrants flooded across Morocco’s border to Spain’s Ceuta Enclave. Border guards turned their backs, widely interpreted as a punishment by Rabat.
Rabat wants the Western Sahara to be an independent state under Moroccan sovereignty, but Polisario would prefer a UN-supervised referendum regarding self-determination that is consistent with the 1991 ceasefire.
Just before Spain and Morocco reconnected, several attempts at mass migrations were made in Melilla. One of these attempted crossings involved 2,500 migrants, which was the biggest such attempt ever recorded. Fast 500 people made it through.
The arrivals in Spain’s Atlantic Canary Islands have dropped as a result of the patching up their relationship with Morocco.
Government figures reveal that the April arrivals to the Canary Islands by migrants was 75% lower than February.
After migrants arrived in Melilla from Spain on Friday, Riot Police officers had to seize control of the zone.
The delegation stated that Morocco sent a large number of troops to resist the attack on its border. They ‘cooperated actively’ with Spain’s security force.
Some migrants ran through the Melilla grassland on Friday, escaping the police and breaking free of the riot officers
Sanchez stated earlier this month that Spain will not allow illegal immigration to be used as a way of putting pressure on it.
Spain intends to make ‘irregular Migration’ a security concern on NATO’s Southern flank. This will be done at the NATO summit, which takes place in Madrid from June 29-30.
Over the years thousands of migrants attempted to cross the border from Melilla to Morocco (12 km) or Ceuta (8 km) by scaling fences, hiding under vehicles, and swimming along the coast.
Protecting the two territories is a fence made of barbed wire, cameras, and watchtowers.
The crossings were accompanied by violent clashes with agents who wanted to stop them.
Sometimes, migrants use sticks and hooks to climb over the border fence and to throw stones at officers.
The two cities, claimed by Morocco, have been an issue in diplomatic relations between Madrid and Rabat for years. Spain insists that they are both part of Spain.
Five European Union members on the Mediterranean coast who are concerned about possible refugee waves from Africa prompted by the threat of hunger called Saturday to demand an end to EU’s voluntary solidarity towards migrants.
Two days of talks between Spain, Italy, Cyprus and Malta’s Interior Ministers concluded in Venice. There were concerns that Russia’s invasion might result in large numbers of African refugees flooding south Europe.
Reporters were told by Nicos Nouris, the Cypriot Interior Minister that a strong and common EU policy on migration is necessary. Nouris claimed that “Solidarity can’t be just a slogan and it cannot lack substance.”
The past EU policies that allowed member states to offer asylum for some of the hundreds, thousands of migrants arriving in Italy and Greece were grossly inept.
Many EU member countries did not respond. Other EU countries, even though they pledged to provide modest amounts of aid for the thousands of migrants being rescued by smugglers from unsuitable boats, did not follow through.
‘Solidarity in our mind cannot be voluntary,″ Nouris said.
He pointed out that, after years of Cyprus welcoming migrants to its island nation of eastern Mediterranean islands, now only 5% of those in the country are asylum-seekers.
However, the meeting didn’t address millions of Ukrainian refugees fleeing violence in Ukraine who have recently moved to northern EU countries like Poland and Hungary.
The urgent need to address how Europe manages large numbers of migrants is heightened by fears of drought in Africa, surging food prices, and the impossibility of shipping Ukrainian grain from Ukraine to Somalia and Egypt, as well as rising food prices, which could lead directly and significantly increase the number of people who are hungry.
The Sahel is an area of Africa located just below the Sahara Desert. It’s home to 18 million people who are suffering from severe hunger. Farmers in the region have been experiencing their worst harvest season for more than 10 years.
Luciana Lamorgese, the Italian Interior Minister, referred to the blockage of wheat in Ukraine as another reason why the EU should develop an ‘adequate mechanism for distributing migrants among its member countries.
Her demand for repatriation agreements was also made with other countries where people seek a better lifestyle in Europe. However, her asylum requests were rejected because they flee poverty and not war or persecution.
The UK currently faces a migration crisis with thousands crossing the English Channel every month to get to Britain in small boats.
On Thursday, 138 people made the perilous journey in three boats, bringing the total number of migrants crossing the Channel in 2022 to 11,928 – almost double the 5,906 migrants who arrived in the same period last year.
The first group, consisting of 45 to 50 individuals, was brought in Dover by the Border Force cutter Defender, despite stormy forecasts. A few children and women were also included.
Another group, approximately 50 people, was transported to the harbour aboard Border Force vessel Ranger at 1pm. The men were covered in blue blankets, and wore red hats as they battled the frigid sea conditions.
After being picked up by the English Channel, 40 migrants were escorted back to Dover today by a Border Force Boat Ranger
On Thursday, 138 people crossed the Channel by three boats. That brings the total number crossing the Channel of migrants in 2022 up to 11,928. It is almost twice as many migrants arrived during the same time last year, when 5,906 were arriving.
After being picked up by the English Channel, 60 migrants were escorted back to Dover by a Border Force Boat Ranger.
This happened as Boris Johnson, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Carrie Johnson flew to Rwanda for an official visit. The trip was made amid controversy over plans to ship migrants to Africa.
Johnson The British government defended the plan with force, insisting that it was a legal way to prevent criminal gangs from smuggling migrants through the English Channel by small boats. Britain has experienced an illegal influx in migrants over the past few years from countries such as Syria, Afghanistan Iran Sudan, Iraq, and Yemen.
Last week however, Britain was forced into cancelling After the European Court of Human Rights intervened and stated that the flight was to be used to transport asylum seekers to Rwanda, the plane had been canceled.
Three days of intense court battles by immigrant rights attorneys for deportation relief culminated in the decision to cancel the flight.
British officials stated that regardless of how many passengers there were, the plane would still take off. After all the appeals no one was still on board.
Priti Patel, the Home Secretary of India said that she was sorry for the cancellation but wouldn’t be deterred by doing right. Priti Patel added that the legal team was reviewing all decisions made regarding this flight. Preparation for next flights begins immediately.
Up to this point, 2364 people have reached Britain in 59 dinghies or other small craft.
On June 14, 444 people made treacherous crossings of the Dover Straits, which is 21 miles long. This was the busiest day.
Official figures show that 28,526 people crossed in 2021. This compares to the 8,410 crossing in 2020.
Natalie Elphicke from Dover has declared that “These staggering figures underscore yet again why urgent actions are required.”
“It’s sad that those who ought to know better are undermining the Government’s efforts to protect lives and end traffickers’ activities.
“They need to think twice and be supportive of the actions taken to end these treacherous travels.
Let’s not forget the fact that criminal smuggling bands have a total disregard for anyone.
“Too many people have died trying to cross the English Channel.” It must end.