Security forces in Tangier have intensified operations to remove beggars and homeless people from the city’s streets as the northern port city enters peak tourist season, attracting large numbers of Moroccan and foreign visitors.
According to sources who spoke to Hespress, daily police patrols this summer have led to the detention of dozens of people, including a significant number of minors, as well as women and elderly individuals — many of whom rely on begging to meet their needs.
Police say many of those detained, after questioning, admitted they had traveled to Tangier specifically for the summer season to beg or engage in informal economic activities such as selling tissues, flowers, or grilled corn on the street.
In the case of minors, authorities often release them after handing them over to their parents, who frequently say their children are forced to earn money through small sales or begging. In some cases, entire families have relocated to Tangier for the summer, renting homes in working-class neighborhoods while members head out daily to seek income on the streets.
The phenomenon becomes more visible in summer, fueled by Tangier’s booming tourism and commerce, and is seen as a challenge that falls under the shared responsibility of several government sectors — particularly those overseeing family affairs, social protection, and employment. Economic hardship in the towns and villages from which many of these individuals originate is a major driver, sources said.
Local residents and business owners have expressed frustration over the growing number of child beggars in tourist areas, questioning what they see as the near-total absence of civil society groups and official agencies tasked with integrating and supporting vulnerable populations.
Observers warn that relying solely on a security approach will not resolve the issue, which they describe as a clear indicator of deepening social and economic hardship for many Moroccan families.
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