ARCHIVED - Calls for immigrants to be returned to Morocco immediately after storming the Spanish border in Melilla

The unauthorized arrivals are seen as a threat to public health in the current coronavirus emergency

During the coronavirus emergency Spain closed its land borders with France and Portugal in the middle of March, but in the north African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla the frontiers with Morocco have been guarded by 6-metre barbed wire fences for years in an attempt to repel prospective illegal immigrants from Africa who are desperate to enter EU territory.

The fences remain in place, of course, and since 13^th March the border has been completely closed, but even the added deterrent of Covid-19 in Spain was not sufficient to dissuade 50 Africans from storming the border in Melilla on Monday and successfully entering Spanish territory. In normal circumstances they would be temporarily housed in a detention centre while procedures for their repatriation are initiated, but given the exceptional nature of the current situation the PP and Vox parties are demanding that on this occasion they be returned to Morocco immediately due to the risk of the coronavirus being spread further in the enclave.

Senator Sofía Acedo, who represents Melilla, has requested that an agreement signed in 1992 be invoked in order to facilitate their return to Morocco, and many calls have been made for the new arrivals to be quarantined immediately. Even if they are allowed to stay in Spain, she adds, they should be transported to the mainland as the CETI internment centre in Melilla is full to capacity.

Image: immigrants after crossing the Melilla border in May 2019 (AUGC Twitter)

Remember: LOCKDOWN MEANS LOCKDOWN. STAY AT HOME. STAY SAFE AND DO YOUR BIT TO REDUCE THE SPREAD OF CORONAVIRUS.

Follow Murcia Today on Facebook to keep up to date with all the latest updates locally for the Region of Murcia and the main information for the rest of Spain: https://www.facebook.com/MurciaToday/. 

Our local area groups are as follows. These are designed to filter locally specific information and may be used by clubs, charities, any of the businesses who work with us to ensure information is available to residents in English and for those living in the specific areas. They are not buy and sell groups, do not accept any bickering or argumentative so and so's, are not "open for any old rubbish" pages, and are not trying to compete with your local comunity groups, they are specifically for sharing good, relevant local information and we hope you will use them for that during this difficult time. 

Around Mazarrón news, events and local info: Click to join

Mazarrón, Fuente Álamo, Águilas, Lorca, Totana, Puerto Lumbreras, Camposol, Alhama de Murcia. Click to join (all within a half hour drive of each other)

Mar Menor news, events and local info. Click to join (this includes all the Mar Menor municipalities and Cartagena)

North-west Murcia: Bullas, Mula, Cehegin, Caravaca, Cieza, Calasparra, Jumilla, Moratalla info. Click to join

What to do if you are in the Region of Murcia and believe you may have contracted the virus

The regional government has set up a special helpline to supply information to members of the public (900 121212) if they suspect that they may have contracted the virus rather than going straight to hospital or to a medical centre.

Sensible precautions

The advice being issued to members of the public by medical authorities all over the world coincides on the following points:

- Wash hands frequently with either soap and water or a sanitiser gel

- Catch coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues – and throw the tissues away immediately after use before immediately washing your hands!

- If you don’t have a tissue, use your sleeve – and wash the item of clothing used at the next opportunity

- AVOID touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands

- AVOID close contact with people who are unwell

- Don´t panic!