23 African Migrants Died as They Tried to Reach Spain. The World Wants Answers.

The deaths of 23 migrants trying to cross into Spain from Morocco must be investigated, the United Nations, Human Rights Watch, the African Union, and 50 Spanish and Moroccan human rights groups have said after footage was released that showed their lifeless bodies has gone. range.

Last Thursday, nearly 2,000 people, mainly from Sudan and South Sudan, confronted border officials when they attempted to erect a 10-metre-high border fence in the Spanish enclave of Melilla in North Africa.

Videos shared on social media in the hours after the incident showed dozens of bodies, some motionless, scattered on the floor of the border control zone. Officers can be seen thrashing some of the injured men as they lie helpless on the ground. Moroccan authorities initially claimed that the stampede caused the deaths of the migrants.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) said, “The death of at least 23 African men at the Melilla-Moroccan border on June 24, 2022 requires an independent, impartial investigation capable of determining what happened and who takes responsibility for such damages.” Told in a statement.

HRW also observed and verified satellite imagery that shows Moroccan officials attempting a hasty mass burial near the border.

“Satellite imagery collected on June 27, 2022 shows recent soil disturbances at the site of freshly dug graves identified in photographs verified by Human Rights Watch. Those observations were not visible on satellite imagery recorded on June 23, a day before the incident,” said HRW.

It added: “To this end, it is important for the Moroccan authorities to make every effort to preserve the bodies in a respectful and appropriate manner to allow autopsies and verification of the cause of death. Authorities should be able to identify the dead.” Every effort should be made to inform and inform their families.

Meanwhile, African Union President Moussa Faki Mahamat has expressed his anger over the “disrespectful treatment of African migrants”.

“I express my deep shock and concern at the violent and degrading treatment of African migrants attempting to cross the international border from Morocco into #Spain, following which at least 23 people have been killed and many more injured.” Went.” Her Majesty wrote on Twitter. “I call for an immediate inquiry into the matter and remind all countries of their obligations under international law to treat all migrants with respect and protect their safety and human rights while avoiding the use of excessive force.” Prioritize.”

The United Nations Committee on Migrant Workers (CMW) has also expressed its “grave concern and deep sorrow” over the incident and called on Spain and Morocco to review their process for accepting asylum seekers.

“In order to avoid a recurrence of such tragedies, the Committee recommended measures to expand the availability of avenues for safe and orderly migration from Morocco, Spain and other EU states and to guarantee and respect the right to seek and receive asylum. Said for,” CMW Told in a statement.

On Monday, 50 human rights organizations in Spain and Morocco, including the Moroccan Association on Human Rights, co signed A statement condemned both countries for their role in the incident.

“23 dead and hundreds injured … are a sad symbol of European policies and Moroccan complicity,” the statement said.