Morocco, in a light touch initiative, took to dismantling migrant camps near the Spanish enclave of Melilla by burning hundreds of the migrants’ makeshift shelters.
Migrants claim that the Moroccan security forces held people back by force as they cleared the camps. Witnesses said the forces hit people on arms, legs and heads, with some needing hospital attention.
A local human rights group said more than 1,200 migrants were put on busses heading for other parts of Morocco.
Video footage was taken of the charred remains of the camps.
Migrants have targeted Melilla as a way to gain entry into Europe. They live rough, sometimes for years, waiting for the chance to scramble over the triple fence which separates this part of Spain from Morocco.
On Tuesday, more than 600 tried to get across, according to Spanish authorities, but only 35 were successful.
Morocco warned this week that it will take a tougher line on illegal migrants using Morocco as their base. Authorities noted that nearly 18,000 people had applied successfully to their special programme to regularise illegal immigrants.
An interior ministry official said that camps near the other Spanish enclave, Ceuta, will be dismantled very soon.
Meanwhile, in more ongoing human tragedy, 300 people are believed to have drowned to death so far this week whilst crossing rough Mediterranean seas.
