Tags: Morocco, investigation, migration, economic situation, Princeton University,
An opinion survey conducted by Princeton University revealed that 35% of Moroccans are considering emigrating, due to the deterioration of the economic situation in Morocco.
The survey covers 2,400 Moroccans and shows that 53% of those who plan to immigrate intend to do so illegally, and the countries that most attract these young people are the United States (26%), followed by the France and Canada (23%), and Italy and Spain (22% each). , and Germany (19%).
The survey indicates that the most important reasons for the desire to emigrate are the difficult economic situation, as the Moroccan economy has been seriously affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and the September 2023 earthquake, which killed 3 000 people, and inflation reached 9.4% during the month of September. first quarter of 2023, which has seriously affected poor groups. With the rise in fuel and food prices.
Rising inflation has hit the poor hard, causing an additional 3.2 million people to fall into poverty or vulnerability by the end of 2022. Unemployment has also increased, from 11.8% to 13%. between 2022 and 2023, which has exacerbated difficult conditions, particularly in rural areas. areas.
Due to the lack of immigration visas, many Moroccans resort to illegal immigration by sea to Spain, with 25,800 Moroccans arriving in Spain in 2023, making Morocco the third source of migrants after Colombia and Venezuela.
Moroccans use maritime migration routes through the Canary Islands or the Alboran Sea to reach Spain, and some attempt to swim to reach the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla.
Stories of migration are evident in accounts like Omar (21) and Yacine (24), who attempted to cross the Boran Sea from Saïdia, Morocco in May 2022. Despite their poor economic conditions, illusions about life in Europe and what they saw in videos on social media inspired them to try. They have not been found since.
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