In search of the European dream: From Sudan to Morocco

Nador (Morocco), Jul 21 (EFE).- (Camera: Mohamed Siali) Rached Musa still limps from a deep wound on the sole of his foot. He did it two weeks ago jumping the fence from Algeria to Morocco. Then, this 20-year-old Sudanese man walked alone and lost for three days through the forest until he reached Oujda. Every month, between 100 and 150 migrants enter the Moroccan city of Oujda through the Algerian border, located just four kilometres from this city, located in northeast Morocco.

FOOTAGE OF THE MOROCCO AND ALGERIA BORDER, OF OUJDA, BERKANE, NADOR AND THE FORESTS OF MOUNT GURUGÚ.

INCLUDES SOUNDBITES OF:

-ABDESLAM AMAKHTARI, PRESIDENT OF THE TISAGHNAS ASSOCIATION FOR CULTURE AND DEVELOPMENT:

1.- "The asylum seeker, the economic migrant or for circumstances derived from climate change has behind him a network that shows him that the operation to cross into the other shore is a matter of one, two or three days, because many of the emigrants that we have met while working say that they have already paid for 'the journey', they have paid for their migratory project to cross to the other shore of the Mediterranean the day after they arrive in Morocco, but then they discover that they are victims of trafficking mafias and have to stay (in Morocco) for up to 10 years in an irregular situation. This causes a state of discontent and despair, and when one reaches that point may resort to other methods to continue, including confrontation".

2.- "When we talk about Sudanese migrants we talk about asylum seekers (...), and the comparison is made with the asylum seekers from the war in Ukraine, with the flows of refugees that have been welcomed, with the refugees to whom that all European countries have opened their doors. And the Sudanese refugee who is here sees how refugees from other parts of the world who live the same conflict (as they do in their country) are naturally welcomed, and this paradox makes him wonder: And why not me? (...) I think that is another element that pushes them to resort to other alternatives, to alternatives that send a message to the world: that there is a management of double standards".

-AHMED, 15-YEAR-OLD SUDANESE:

1.- "I have entered through a fence and a moat that separates Morocco and Algeria. Thanks to Allá, I have managed to enter Morocco despite the fence and the moat (in the Moroccan part) there was a forest and I had to walk between six and seven kilometers to get to Oujda".

2.- "There is a dream in front of me and I am not afraid, I want to try it. I want to live a better life, help my family and study. I am looking for a better life."