Spanish authorities deport 40 Yemeni refugees, including minors

The Spanish authorities deported 40 Yemeni refugees, who were registered and residing in a shelter for asylum seekers before the outbreak of the recent crisis with Morocco.

A Moroccan human rights association accused the authorities of the Spanish enclave of Ceuta of exploiting the crisis of the influx of migrants into the city last week to deport 40 Yemeni refugees even though they were in the reception center for asylum seekers.

“This is a big breach, because these people are recognized as refugees by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees,” said Omar Naji, an activist in the association in the city of Nador.

He added, “Morocco is usually a destination for some refugees coming from Yemen or Syria, or from other distant countries such as Bangladesh, Myanmar or Afghanistan,” noting that “their number remains small compared to those coming from Africa.”

They hope to cross to the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla in the north of the Kingdom, where they seek asylum in Europe.

YPA