Calm returns to the Melilla border while Beni-Enzar recovers transit with Morocco

The Melilla border has recovered this Monday the transit of vehicles and pedestrians in both directions after chaining its second consecutive night without incidents. The Beni-Enzar crossing once again connects the city with Morocco after the 36-hour closure caused by last week's irregular entry attempts.

The Government Delegation assures that the border is operating normally within the established security device. Police sources still speak of a "semi-normal" situation, as vehicles advance in groups of 20 and travelers of Operation Crossing the Strait maintain priority to cross into Morocco.

Melilla was relegated to the background during the most serious hours of the migratory crisis experienced in Ceuta, but it also endured strong pressure on different points of its perimeter. A total of 149 people irregularly accessed the city in two days, 130 during the first night and another 19 during the next. More than half were minors.

The temporary closure of Beni-Enzar left about 2,000 travelers heading to Morocco blocked for about a day and a half and caused the accumulation of up to 700 vehicles in the vicinity of the border. The reopening began on Saturday, once the migratory pressure was reduced, and has been progressively extended over the weekend.

Operation Crossing the Strait sets the pace

About 500 vehicles have disembarked this Monday morning in Melilla aboard two ships from Motril and Almería. The cars have been concentrated in the esplanade near Beni-Enzar and are accessing the security zone in batches of 20, double that during the first hours of Sunday.

The priority granted to these travelers aims to prevent a border bottleneck from forming again in the middle of Operation Crossing the Strait. Residents of Melilla can cross when there are no more foreign vehicles pending to continue their journey, while the pedestrian crossing remains open without distinctions and registers a very reduced influx.

The Government delegate, Sabrina Moh, met this Monday with the heads of the National Police and the Civil Guard to carry out a first evaluation of the operation. Beni-Enzar remains open, transit continues without incidents and controls will continue to adapt to the number of vehicles arriving in the city.