Repatriation of 16,000 Moroccans in Libya since 2011, Ministry

Nearly 16,000 Moroccan nationals were brought home since the onset of hostilities in Libya in 2011, the Ministry in Charge of Moroccan Expats and Migration Issues announced.

 

Some 12,000 Moroccans were repatriated at the State's costs with the supervision of the ministry in charge, the foreign affairs ministry, Morocco's consulates in Tunis, Tripoli and Benghazi, Morocco's embassy in Egypt, the Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity and Moroccan carrier RAM, while some other 4,000 left the country using their own means.

 

In terms of logistics, some 5,888 people left the country by sea via the ports of Mesrata, Tripoli and Benghazi, other 3,851 took flights from Tripoli, 1,926 took special flights from Jerba and Sebha, 2,400 via Tunisia, 322 via Egypt and some other 106 via Arab and European countries.

 

The ministry recalled that, following the worsening security situation in Libya, a crisis cell involving all concerned ministerial departments was set up on Aug. 1 at the headquarters of the foreign affairs ministry to monitor the situation of Moroccan nationals in the country.

 

This cell is tasked, in coordination with diplomatic and consular services of Morocco, Libya and Tunisia, with taking emergency interventions to assist Moroccan citizens, it said, adding that the cell received on its free toll numbers some 1,500 calls for help by Moroccans living in Libya and their families.

 

The same source noted that RAM increased the number of its Tunis-Casablanca flights and the seating capacity of its aircrafts by using bigger planes which enabled to bring home from Tunisia some 152 Moroccans, while 91 others will be repatriated soon.

 

A crisis cell was also set up in Tripoli to assist Moroccan expatiates there and has indeed received 2,500 repatriation requests from Tripoli and 400 others from Benghazi.

 

In addition, a financial fund was made available at the Morocco's general consulate in Tripoli to help Moroccans in financial difficulties, in coordination with consular services and RAM office, in order to sell some 270 Moroccans affordable plane tickets and facilitate their travel via the Ras Jedir crossing point.