This is the second group concerned by this operation in Spain after the departure on Wednesday of three flights from Malaga with 300 Moroccans on board.

The Moroccan ambassador to Spain, Karima Benyaich, who visited the Moroccans concerned by this operation before their transfer to the airport, stressed that this action, initiated by the embassy of the Kingdom and the various Moroccan consulates in Spain, in coordination and with the cooperation of the Spanish authorities, benefited in particular people suffering from health problems or chronic diseases, as well as the elderly, those in precarious situations and minor children.

 These same criteria will be taken into consideration in the next stages of this program, which will continue in the next few days to include the region of Catalonia (north-east Spain), Benyaich added in a statement on this occasion, pointing out that, with the operation launched today in Madrid, the total number of beneficiaries of this program in Spain now reaches 600 people.

 This operation is being carried out in strict compliance with the health protocol in force and with precautionary measures, the ambassador noted.

 In this context, she also indicated that the aircrafts operated at two thirds of their capacity, as did the buses carrying the beneficiaries, in order to comply with social distancing measures.

 Benyaich recalled, in this regard, that the Moroccan government, in accordance with the High guidelines of HM King Mohammed VI, has assumed all costs related to the implementation of the repatriation program for Moroccans stranded abroad, as well as all costs related to housing and testing for the novel coronavirus (Covid-19), in strict compliance with the health protocol in force during the days of confinement in Morocco.