RABAT, Aug 06 (AFP): The Moroccan navy has picked up more than 400 migrants trying to reach Spain and returned them to the North African country, a military source said on Monday.
Some of those taken ashore were "in a state of poor health" and received first aid aboard Moroccan coastguard vessels, before being taken to ports in the north of the country, the source said. The majority of the 424 people - who returned to Morocco overnight into Monday - were from sub-Saharan Africa.
Sixteen children and 53 women were among the migrants, who were in several boats.
The number of migrants reaching Spain by sea has dropped by around 30 percent, the United Nations' migration agency says.
In the first half of this year, 10,475 reached the country, compared to 15,075 during the same period in 2018, according to figures from the International Organization for Migration.
More than 200 people died during the journey or were reported missing at sea in the first six months of 2019.
Moroccan navy pick up 400 migrants en route to Spain
FE Team | Published: August 07, 2019 00:30:31
Moroccan navy pick up 400 migrants en route to Spain
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