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{{short description|Part of the Morocco–Spain border at Melilla}}
The '''Melilla border fence''' is a ] between ] and ] controlled ]. Constructed by Spain, its stated purpose is to stop ] and ].
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}
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The '''Melilla border fence''' forms part of the ] in the city of ], one of two Spanish cities in north Africa. Constructed by Spain, its stated purpose is to stop ] and ]. Melilla's border and ], also bordering Morocco, are the only two land borders between the European Union and an African country.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bilefsky|first1=Dan|title=More Migrants Storm Fence to Enter Ceuta, Spanish Enclave in Africa|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/20/world/europe/ceuta-morocco-border-migrants.html|date=2017-02-20|access-date=2017-05-12|work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
⚫ The ] barrier cost Spain €33 million (US$35 million ) to construct. It consists of ] (6 mi.) of parallel 3-metres (10-foot) high ]s topped with ], with regular watchposts and a ] running between them to accommodate ] patrols. Underground cables connect spotlights, noise and movement sensors, and video cameras to a central control booth. Its height is ] being doubled to 6 m.
In September and October 2005, during a crisis of mass intrusions of African immigrants camping on nearby mount ], the Spanish government decided to rush the height doubling and to add devices to harmlessly slow intruders.


==Recent history==
In October 2005, over 700 subsaharian migrants tried to enter Spanish territory from the Moroccan border. Many of them were shot in the back alledgedly by the Moroccan Gendarmerie. There have also been accusations of the Spanish Police opening fire. ] and ] have accused the Moroccan government of dumping over 500 refugees in the ] without food or water supplies.
In September 2005, some thousands of ] migrants tried to climb over the fences in several waves moving upon Melilla. About 700 made it past the fences while six died in clashes with Moroccan security forces.<ref>{{cite news | first=Daniel | last=Woolls |author2=Emmanuel Tumanjong |author3=Todd Pitman | title=Far from home, African immigrants tell families about grueling ordeals to reach Europe | publisher=Union-Tribune Publishing Co | url =http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20051009-1117-spain-homesickafricans.html | agency =Associated Press | access-date = 2008-01-06 }}</ref> The 2005 events at the Melilla and Ceuta border fences are the subject of a documentary film, ''Victimes de nos richesses''.<ref name=Barlet>{{cite news|last=Barlet|first=Olivier|author-link=Olivier Barlet|title=Victimes de nos richesses|url=http://www.afribd.com/article.php?no=8950|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130101181421/http://www.afribd.com/article.php?no=8950|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 January 2013|access-date=16 March 2012|newspaper=Africultures|language=fr}}</ref>


Three hundred people attempted and 30 succeeded in climbing the fence in August 2020, some of the 2,250 people who entered Ceuta and Melilla in 2020. Eighty-seven people scaled the fence on 19 January 2021; nine were taken to hospital.<ref>{{cite news |title=Migrants scale border fences to enter Spanish enclave |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/migrants-scale-border-fences-enter-spanish-enclave-75339571?cid=clicksource_4380645_19_hero_headlines_headlines_hed |access-date=January 20, 2021 |work=ABC News |agency=AP |date=January 19, 2021 |language=en}}</ref> ]; 133 successfully. Twenty-three people died and several were taken to the hospital.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-61956104 | title=Melilla migrant deaths spark anger in Spain | work=BBC News | date=27 June 2022 }}</ref>
] has objected to the construction of the barrier, as it considers Melilla to be occupied Moroccan land, and has sought full devolution of the territory since ]. ] has been an integral part of ] since ].

==Renovation==
] toward African migrants prompted the Spanish government of ] in 2005 to build up a new border fence. This border fence, built next to the two deteriorated existing ones, completely seals the border. In 2018, the new interior minister of Spain recognized the anti-immigration sentiment that the fence stems from and vowed to replace the razor wire along its top with more humane deterrents. "Spain's new interior minister has vowed to do "everything possible" to remove the "anti-migrant" razor wire fences, which separate Morocco from the Spanish territories of Ceuta and Melilla."<ref>{{cite news |title=Ceuta and Melilla: Spain wants rid of anti-migrant razor wire |work=BBC News |date=14 June 2018 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-44485995 }}</ref>

]
⚫ This third razor wire barrier cost Spain €33 million to construct. It consists of {{convert|11|km|mi|abbr=on}} of parallel {{convert|3|m|ftin|abbr=on}} high fences topped with barbed wire, with regular watchposts and a road running between them to accommodate either police patrols or ambulance service in case of need. Underground cables connect spotlights, noise and movement sensors, and video cameras to a central control booth. In 2005 its height was doubled to {{convert|6|m|ftin|abbr=on}} since immigrants were climbing the previous fences equipped with home-made steps. Also, devices to slow them harmlessly were added to facilitate the intruders' detention.{{fact|date=January 2019}}

Even with three fences built, people still scale them and arrive on Spanish territory.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaILY9TG-fQ |title=How a border wall works in Melilla, Spain, a gateway between Europe and Africa 2019|website=] }}</ref> From these, ] and ] accused the Moroccan government of dumping people from various African countries (some of them claiming to be validly registered as ]) in an uninhabited area of the ] without food or water supplies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amnesty.or.jp/en/news/2005/1025_444.html|title=Amnesty International- Morocco/Western Sahara: Amnesty International concerned|work=AMNESTY JAPAN}}</ref>


== See also == == See also ==
* ] * ]
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* ]

==References==
{{reflist}}


== External links == == External links ==
{{commonscat}}
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* {{in lang|es}}
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*{{cite web |url=https://www.pri.org/stories/2018-09-10/razor-wire-separates-europe-africa-might-be-coming-down |title=The razor wire that separates Europe from Africa might be coming down }}
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*{{cite web |url=https://www.pri.org/stories/2017-02-13/big-beautiful-walls-dont-stop-migrants-us-and-europe |title='Big, beautiful' walls don't stop migrants in the US and Europe }}
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*{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-44485995 |title=Ceuta and Melilla: Spain wants rid of anti-migrant razor wire |work=BBC News |date=14 June 2018 }}
*{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaILY9TG-fQ |title=How a border wall works in Melilla, Spain, a gateway between Europe and Africa 2019|website=] }}
⚫ *
* Melilla border fence photo gallery:

{{Melilla}}
{{European migrant crisis}}
{{Borders of Spain}}


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Latest revision as of 08:04, 16 August 2024

Part of the Morocco–Spain border at Melilla

Layout of Melilla
Morocco–Spain border, by Melilla
Melilla

The Melilla border fence forms part of the Morocco–Spain border in the city of Melilla, one of two Spanish cities in north Africa. Constructed by Spain, its stated purpose is to stop illegal immigration and smuggling. Melilla's border and its equivalent in Ceuta, also bordering Morocco, are the only two land borders between the European Union and an African country.

Recent history

In September 2005, some thousands of sub-Saharan African migrants tried to climb over the fences in several waves moving upon Melilla. About 700 made it past the fences while six died in clashes with Moroccan security forces. The 2005 events at the Melilla and Ceuta border fences are the subject of a documentary film, Victimes de nos richesses.

Three hundred people attempted and 30 succeeded in climbing the fence in August 2020, some of the 2,250 people who entered Ceuta and Melilla in 2020. Eighty-seven people scaled the fence on 19 January 2021; nine were taken to hospital. 2000 people attempted to scale the fence on 24 June 2022; 133 successfully. Twenty-three people died and several were taken to the hospital.

Renovation

Anti-immigration sentiment toward African migrants prompted the Spanish government of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero in 2005 to build up a new border fence. This border fence, built next to the two deteriorated existing ones, completely seals the border. In 2018, the new interior minister of Spain recognized the anti-immigration sentiment that the fence stems from and vowed to replace the razor wire along its top with more humane deterrents. "Spain's new interior minister has vowed to do "everything possible" to remove the "anti-migrant" razor wire fences, which separate Morocco from the Spanish territories of Ceuta and Melilla."

Guard post and razor wire on the border fence in 2006

This third razor wire barrier cost Spain €33 million to construct. It consists of 11 km (6.8 mi) of parallel 3 m (9 ft 10 in) high fences topped with barbed wire, with regular watchposts and a road running between them to accommodate either police patrols or ambulance service in case of need. Underground cables connect spotlights, noise and movement sensors, and video cameras to a central control booth. In 2005 its height was doubled to 6 m (19 ft 8 in) since immigrants were climbing the previous fences equipped with home-made steps. Also, devices to slow them harmlessly were added to facilitate the intruders' detention.

Even with three fences built, people still scale them and arrive on Spanish territory. From these, Amnesty International and Médecins Sans Frontières accused the Moroccan government of dumping people from various African countries (some of them claiming to be validly registered as political refugees) in an uninhabited area of the Sahara Desert without food or water supplies.

See also

References

  1. Bilefsky, Dan (20 February 2017). "More Migrants Storm Fence to Enter Ceuta, Spanish Enclave in Africa". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  2. Woolls, Daniel; Emmanuel Tumanjong; Todd Pitman. "Far from home, African immigrants tell families about grueling ordeals to reach Europe". Union-Tribune Publishing Co. Associated Press. Retrieved 6 January 2008.
  3. Barlet, Olivier. "Victimes de nos richesses". Africultures (in French). Archived from the original on 1 January 2013. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
  4. "Migrants scale border fences to enter Spanish enclave". ABC News. AP. 19 January 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  5. "Melilla migrant deaths spark anger in Spain". BBC News. 27 June 2022.
  6. "Ceuta and Melilla: Spain wants rid of anti-migrant razor wire". BBC News. 14 June 2018.
  7. "How a border wall works in Melilla, Spain, a gateway between Europe and Africa 2019". YouTube.
  8. "Amnesty International- Morocco/Western Sahara: Amnesty International concerned". AMNESTY JAPAN.

External links

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