Operation Crossing the Strait: an impressive humanitarian operation
Operation Crossing the Strait of Gibraltar (OPE) is a major humanitarian and social assistance operation. Every summer, Morocco, together with other countries such as Spain, prepares the return to their country of Moroccans living abroad who return to enjoy their summer holidays.
The Moroccan state plans this through organisations such as the Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity, which since 2001 has been setting up a major assistance system for the so-called Operation Marhaba.
The aim is to support, in the best possible conditions, the growing flows of Moroccans living abroad on their return to Morocco during the summer holidays, as the Mohammed V Foundation itself acknowledges.
The challenge is very important: to work for the well-being of Moroccan families living abroad, in view of the well-deserved summer break that awaits them after months of work in other countries far from the national territory.
Travel conditions for the Moroccan community living abroad have not always been easy: traffic accidents abroad, abandonment of contingents during the crossing, incidents with boats, families in danger, etc. These are problems that we try to solve with the best means at our disposal.
Certain situations in the past were related to the precariousness and insecurity of certain types of journeys. However, under the guidance of King Mohammed VI, who is also president of the Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity, efforts have been made in recent years to improve the return of hundreds of thousands of Moroccans living abroad who wish to return to their country to enjoy their summer holidays.
As the Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity itself points out, there are several important actions in place to support all the participants in Operation Crossing the Strait or Operation Marhaba: hospitalisation abroad, renting of important means of transport, accommodation for families, administrative, legal and educational assistance, etc...
All of this is part of a large-scale humanitarian operation that has evolved into what is now the OPE.
Mobilisation has been strengthened in recent times. Public and private actors have organised themselves through a collective and coordinated mode of intervention. Reception measures and specific services are put in place to improve social and health conditions, facilitate the transit of members of the community living abroad and help people in vulnerable situations.
Operation Marhaba is thus activated every year from 5 June to 15 September, to cover the holiday period, and the next edition is already very close.
In this regard, the Mohammed V Foundation "offers Moroccans living abroad a multi-channel information and listening platform", as the Foundation itself has pointed out, which offers a toll-free number: 080000 23 23, the Marhaba mobile application and online assistance from the application and the dedicated site www.marhaba.fm5.ma for all those interested.
The major challenge is to try to ensure effective social, administrative and medical assistance for all those involved in Operation Marhaba.
The Foundation, a very prominent player in Operation Marhaba, is present throughout the summer period when the operation is active, through specific reception areas, operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They are located at the main international maritime transit points (Italy, France and Spain) and arrival points in Morocco. They serve as local humanitarian assistance frameworks, managed by teams of social workers and volunteer medical staff.
These teams intervene to respond to any need, in terms of orientation, administrative assistance, medical care or specific cases of precariousness that justify a sensitive situation. They act as liaison with other stakeholders, in cases requiring coordination to address the need or emergency, as reported by the Mohammed V Foundation itself.
The effectiveness of this general mobilisation is orchestrated by the Central Coordination Office (BCC). Supervised by the Foundation, it ensures the smooth running of the operation. It oversees the activity of the assistance teams deployed on the ground and mobilises first responders in the event of an emergency situation. Operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, it remains attentive to direct requests from Moroccans living abroad.
Large deployment
Operation Crossing the Strait includes six enclaves abroad such as the port of Genoa in Italy, the port of Séte and Marseilles in France, the port of Algeciras, Almeria and the port of Motril in Spain, and 18 Moroccan sites: the ports of Tangier Med, Tanger Ville, Al Hoceima and Nador Beni Ansar, the two border posts of Bab Sebta and Bab Mellilia, the airports of Casablanca, Rabat-Salé, Nador, Agadir, Féz, Marrakech, Oujda and Tangier and four rest areas in the Mediterranean, Smir M'Diq, Jebha and Tazaghine.
In addition, there are 24 reception centres of the Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity in Morocco and abroad, the aforementioned Central Coordination Office and a team of 262 temporary doctors and paramedics and 848 social workers.
Some figures from 2023 show the scale of Operation Crossing the Strait. Last year 112,377 people benefited from medical and social assistance, 11,211 people received medical assistance with first aid and hospitalisation, 16,807 people received legal, administrative and transport assistance and 78,695 requests for education and training were made.
Up to 3,165,328 people participated in the OPE, 2.74% more than in 2022. Of these, 1,706,203 by sea (54%) and 1,459,125 by air (46%).