The 25th edition of Operation Marhaba concluded on Monday with a record crossing of more than 4.06 million Moroccans living abroad, marking an increase of over 11% compared to Marhaba 2024. Sanaa Dardikh, head of communications at the Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity, said the operation welcomed «more than 4.06 million Moroccans living abroad between June 10 and September 15», reflecting an 11% growth compared to the previous year. She stressed that these figures highlight «the strong ties between Moroccans abroad and their homeland, Morocco, as well as the scale of the human and logistical mobilization put in place to receive members of the diaspora». Dardikh added, in a statement to MAP, that this year's operation, spanning over three months of mobilization, was marked by the «smooth management» of passenger flows, even during peak periods that saw more than 86,000 travelers arriving daily. «Overall, the operation took place under very good conditions», she emphasized. To ensure smooth crossings, the Mohammed V Foundation, in coordination with other stakeholders, set up 26 Marhaba reception centers in Morocco and abroad, deploying more than 1,000 staff, including social workers, doctors, and nurses. On the medical and social support side, core missions of the foundation, direct assistance was provided to over 88,000 Moroccans living abroad, including 22,000 cases of administrative and customs support, more than 7,500 medical cases (some requiring emergency hospital transfers), and 1,575 direct mobility assistance cases. Medical interventions stood out this year. Among them was the evacuation of a four-month-old infant from Tangier Med Port to the university hospital after suffering from acute respiratory distress, and the resuscitation and transfer of a traveler from Switzerland who fell into a diabetic coma due to hypoglycemia. For his part, Omar Moussa Abdallah, project manager overseeing Operation Marhaba at the Foundation, confirmed that this year's edition saw a «record number» of over 4.06 million Moroccans abroad. He noted that «the operation ran smoothly, with peak entry and exit periods successfully managed». This year, in coordination with institutional partners, the Mohammed V Foundation opened reception centers in 26 locations: 20 in Morocco and six abroad. Following royal instructions, two new sites were added in Dakhla and Laayoune, expanding the geographic coverage of the Marhaba network.
