Monday 24 February 2025 
The spokesperson for the UN SG, Stéphane Dujarric, “strongly deplored” the migratory tragedy that occurred Friday at the Melilla border post when 23 migrants of African origin were brutally killed by the Moroccan police, who prevented them to enter the Spanish enclave, calling it “tragic”.
“We deeply regret this tragic incident and the loss of life, and I believe it is just another reminder of why we need well-managed global migration routes involving countries of origin, destination and transit,” Dujarric said Monday at a press conference.
He recalled that “the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) have already expressed their indignation” on this subject.
Read also: Melilla drama: several voices denounce a “disproportionate response” from Morocco
According to a latest updated report given on Saturday by the authorities of Nador (the nearest town to Melilla, located in northern Morocco), at least 23 sub-Saharan migrants died after the brutal intervention of the Moroccan police who were trying to prevent nearly 2,000 of them to enter the Spanish enclave.
Numerous videos and images have circulated on social networks showing dozens of migrants on the ground, almost inert. Some also showed Moroccan security forces beating up migrants.
This toll is by far the deadliest ever recorded during the many attempts to cross sub-Saharan migrants to Melilla and the neighboring Spanish enclave of Ceuta.
Ahmed Achour