“The Spanish Government and the European Union should not be satisfied with only declarations of good intention from the Moroccan government," said Rafael Vila-Sanjuan, MSF General Director in Spain. "..The international community should demand more transparency from Rabat."

Rabat/Bou-Izakarn - MSF demands that Moroccan authorities provide open access so as to offer care to around 1,000 immigrants, gathered in the area of Bou-Izakarn, 30kms north from Goulimine, located 1,500kms from Rabat.

Some of them, including pregnant women and children, had been cast off in the desert area of Ain Chouater to fend for themselves, with neither food nor water.

Faced with an uncertain destination, these people, after having travelled in inhuman conditions for almost a week, are now being relocated to different parts of the country by the Moroccan authorities.

MSF has followed these immigrants across more than 2,500 km and demands humane treatment for these people, including medical care, water, food, shelter and dignified treatment.

Doctor Javier Gabaldon, MSF General Coordinator in Morocco, emphasises that the affected people“are extremely weak”and that“among this group there are people who are sick and injured, pregnant women and children in need of immediate medical care."

Rafael Vila-Sanjuan, MSF General Director in Spain, adds that notwithstanding the latest negotiations that have taken place in the past few days in Rabat, “the Spanish Government and the European Union should not be satisfied with only declarations of good intention from the Moroccan government.

"Today there are around 1,000 people whose destination is unknown. People to whom, in addition, we do not have access. The international community should demand more transparency from Rabat."

MSF has been working in Morocco since 1998, focusing on providing medical care and humanitarian assistance to Ã? sub-Saharan immigrants.