Rabat, Mar 30 (efe-epa).- Morocco will ban flights from and to Spain and France as from midnight on Tuesday night to prevent the spread of new coronavirus variants. New restrictions in France, Spain and Israel Spain announced a nationwide lockdown Saturday, asking people to remain in their homes except for essential tasks (buying food, medical appointments). Morocco closed the border with Ceuta and Melilla, Spain’s two North African enclaves, early on Friday (13 March) to prevent the spread of the deadly coronavirus, officials said. Usually, crossing the border is simple. Melilla, Spain, is a crossing point for many African migrants who are willing to risk their lives for a chance at a better life in Europe. And it’s one of two Spanish enclaves in Morocco, marking Europe’s only land border with Africa. This latest move by the Moroccan authorities comes after the suspension of air and maritime routes both to and from Spain until further notice Spanish authorities evoked reciprocity but observers see the move as a retaliatory measure against Morocco’s sovereign measure to close borders with the two enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla during the pandemic. An agreement between Morocco and Spain exempts cross-border workers from needing a visa. MOROCCO. See world news photos and videos at ABCNews.com The Spanish embassy in Morocco tweeted on Saturday that ferries were still operating between the enclaves and mainland Spain. The crossing point, located in the Central Pyrenees […] In addition, Spain is Morocco's leading customer and supplier, accounting for 23.7% of its exports and 16.9% of its imports respectively. The enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla have once again entered the centre of political debate in Spain. The decision, which was taken by Rabat, shuts down the only land border between Africa and the European Union. Madrid, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Mar, 2020 ) :Morocco closed the border with Ceuta and Melilla, Spain's two North African enclaves, early on Friday to prevent the spread of the deadly coronavirus, officials said. Madrid, March 13, 2020 – Morocco closed the border with Ceuta and Melilla, Spain’s two North African enclaves, early on Friday to prevent the spread of the deadly coronavirus, officials said. Morocco closes airspace to Spain, France; Mexico: Fatal shooting of Guatemalan near the border a “mistake” Nepal shuts school as smoke from hundreds of wildfires engulfs country; Marine traffic resumes in Suez Canal after huge ship dislodged However, the closure affected both sides of the border. Those age 11 and older must have proof of a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours before arrival. And as Italy closes its ports to most asylum-seekers, more are entering Spain. Online News Editor March 30, 2021. Officially known as the Kingdom of Morocco, Morocco is a nation located in the northwestern region of Africa.Morocca is border by Spain to the north, Algeria to the east, and Western Sahara to the south. An agreement between Morocco and Spain exempts cross-border workers from needing a visa. Morocco closed the border with Ceuta and Melilla, Spain's two North African enclaves, early on Friday to prevent the spread of the deadly coronavirus, officials said. The most significant issue faced along the border is the smuggling of contraband items, mainly tobacco which is found at low prices in Andorra. Contact was made with the government of Morocco, who covered the shortage of labour by sending hundreds of Moroccans in the Spanish’s stead. Madrid, Spain (CNN)More than seven thousand Moroccans, most of them women, are stranded in Spain after their country closed its borders to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Many visitors fly into Morocco perhaps not even aware that travel to and from Morocco’s neighboring countries is possible! In a December statement to the Saudi news channel Al-Sharq, Morocco's head of government, Saad Eddine Othmani said that the Spanish enclaves are Moroccan, and urged Spain's government to open negotiations over their future, provoking a frenzy among a number of Spanish commentators. r/Coronavirus: In December 2019, a novel coronavirus strain (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in the city of Wuhan, China. Andorra lies along the Spain-France border and shares a land border with Spain stretching 39.58 miles. France’s government required the closure of cafés, restaurants and non-essential stores. Spain has excluded Morocco from a list of extra-EU countries that can enter its airspace for commercial and passenger traffic. Morocco border clampdown thwarts Europe-bound migrants. It is compounding wider economic misery for Morocco. These three exclaves form part of Spain's plazas de soberanía, which also includes a number of small islands off the Moroccan coast. People walk near the Spanish border with Morocco in Ceuta on March 13, 2020. The decision, which was taken by Rabat, shuts down the only land border between Africa and the … Get the latest international news and world events from Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and more. The Morocco–Spain border consists of three non-contiguous lines totalling 18.5 km (11.5 m) around the Spanish territories of Ceuta (8 km), Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera (75 metres) and Melilla (10.5 km). / EFE. (UPDATED February 23, 2021) Country-Specific Information: *** Effective January 26, all airline passengers to the United States ages two years and older must provide a negative COVID-19 viral test taken within three calendar days of travel. Morocco closes airspace to Spain, France. Following the closure of the border by General Franco, Gibraltar had - literally overnight - lost its Spanish labour force. Late on Thursday night, March 12, RTVE reported, “Morocco has declared the closure of the land border,” saying it would take effect at 6 a.m. Americans must have a confirmed reservation at a tourist hotel to enter. For about 13 years, the land border was closed from the Spanish side, in an attempt to isolate the territory. The decision, which was taken by Rabat, shuts down the only land border between Africa and the European Union. The border crossing at the port of Portillon in the Vall d’Aran, which connects Spain with France, has been closed for an indefinite period, as a part of France’s government efforts to strengthen its border controls in order to prevent terrorist attacks and prohibit further illegal immigration. From time to time, Morocco unilaterally closes border crossings to eradicate smuggling that creates public disorder. Andorra and Morocco . "Since March, I have not received a salary. 1 minute read. The Melilla border fence forms part of the Morocco–Spain border in the city of Melilla, one of two Spanish cities in north Africa.Constructed by Spain, its stated purpose is to stop illegal immigration and smuggling.Melilla's border and its equivalent in Ceuta, also bordering Morocco, are the only two land borders between the European Union and an African country. Cisse Tiemouko, a migrant from Ivory Coast, warms himself by a fire at a clandestine campsite named Bolingo in northern Morocco near the border fence with Spain… «Very good operational cooperation, between Spain, Senegal, Mauritania and Morocco has significantly reduced the pressure on the route towards the Canary Islands and south of Spain», reads the latest Frontex-AFIC joint report (December 2015). Covid: Morocco closes borders with six more countries, In all, 26 air border closures, , Palestinian N. A., Ansa Fattouma Chairi, 73, has been commuting across the border for half a century. Morocco closes Ceuta and Melilla borders to isolate itself from Spain The border between Morocco and Spain in Melilla on Thursday. This subreddit seeks to monitor the … Luckily, contingency plans had been made for this foreseeable turn of events. M/S Civil Guard in the border crossing of El Tarajal between Spain and Morocco, Ceuta *NATURAL SOUND* (Spanish): "At 5 it closes on both sides.” *BLURRED AT SOURCE* M/S Car crossing the border M/S People crossing the border M/S People crossing the border M/S People running to cross the border M/S Person running to cross the border ... "around 74,000 attempts to immigrate irregularly to Spain were blocked by Moroccan law enforcement," compared to 89,000 in 2018. I am stuck at home," she said. Fattouma Chairi, 73, has been commuting across the border for half a century. Morocco again closes border at Ceuta By AT editor - 3 May 2017 at 4:28 am More than 1,800 Moroccans gathered at the border crossing to the Spanish enclave at Ceuta on Tuesday, forcing authorities to again close the crossing because of the demonstrations.