Nine African migrants freeze to death in Moroccan mountains
Nine migrants from sub-Saharan Africa have died from exposure to freezing temperatures as they attempted to pass through the mountainous Jerada Province region in Morocco, according to Africanews via AP on 15th December.
The Moroccan Association of Human Rights said on 13th December that the bodies of seven men and two women had been recovered in Ras Asfour, close to the Algerian border. They added: “They died from extreme cold, which their exhausted bodies could not stand.”
The area is characterised by rocky terrain and cold winters, where temperatures can rapidly drop.
The organisation revealed one of the deceased was from Guinea whilst the remainder came from fellow sub-Saharan Africa countries. The exact details of their identities are currently unknown.
Morocco’s Interior Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for further information regarding the individuals who died.
Their deaths have come less than a week after the Morocco Organization of Human Rights-a different organisation- demanded humane borders for migrants and the decriminalisation of illegal migration. They also called for the creation of an apparatus to locate missing migrants.
The tragedy in Ras Asfour highlights the increasingly dangerous routes migrants are attempting to avoid authorities and border controls. The mountainous region is traditionally considered a marginal route for African migrants aiming to reach Europe.
The Moroccan and other neighbouring states’ security forces frequently halt migrants attempting to reach Europe from North Africa. Border-control agreements with the European Union have improved authoritative power to prevent migrants leaving the region.
However, the measures have been met with criticism, with many migrants trapped in North African countries and unable to leave as a result of the strict measures.
Reports from Tunisia described huge encampments of migrants, starved of food and water and experiencing a hostile reaction from local residents.
Tunisia signed a 1 billion Euro deal with the EU in July 2023, with the promise of curbing the flow of migrants to EU shores. This contributed to a reported 79% drop from 2023 to 2024.
Africanews, Maghrebi.org
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