North Africa

Response in 2017

Countries in North Africa have traditionally been transit countries, but have increasingly become destination points for refugees and asylum-seekers. Refugees and asylum-seekers in camps and urban areas were affected by the difficult economic situation across the subregion. Due to their unrecognised legal status, refugees often face difficulties in accessing employment and other services leaving the most vulnerable almost fully dependent on humanitarian assistance. In the absence of effective access to protection and long-term solutions, many refugees move onwards. An increase in mixed movements and instability in sub-Saharan Africa and the Sahel region has nourished growing transnational criminal networks of smugglers and traffickers which many refugees fall victim to. Along the route, refugees and migrants are exposed to risks of trafficking, forced labour and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). With limited access to main entry, transit and departure points, particularly in the south of Algeria, Egypt and Libya, the access to and identification of people in need of international protection remains a key challenge for UNHCR.
 
In order to enhance the protection space for refugees in North Africa, UNHCR advocated and supported legislative processes to establish national asylum systems in Algeria, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia. UNHCR also worked towards ensuring that refugees are informed about, and have access to, their rights.
 
In 2017 alone, close to 2,900 people perished along the central Mediterranean. Libya remained the main point of departure for those attempting the perilous journey across the sea to Europe. In Libya, UNHCR strongly advocated for establishing adequate reception conditions at disembarkation points and establishing registration procedures to ensure an early identification of people in need of international protection. UNHCR promoted alternatives to detention, advocating for the immediate release of refugees and asylum-seekers currently detained in Libya. As protection and solutions for refugees within Libya remained limited, UNHCR scaled up efforts in complementary pathways, such as evacuations and resettlement. At the end of the year, a total of 389 individuals were evacuated from Libya, 162 to Italy and 227, under the newly established Evacuation Transit Mechanism (ETM), to Niger. The cases for 305 refugees were submitted directly for resettlement to third countries from Libya.
 
In line with UNHCR’s comprehensive strategy for the central Mediterranean route, all operations in North Africa focused their advocacy efforts on preventing refoulement, improving access to territory and empowering refugees and internally displaced people (IDPs) through livelihood activities.
 
The lack of funding in 2017 had a direct impact on UNHCR’s operations in North Africa. In particular, funding shortfalls affected life-saving assistance to the 90,000 vulnerable Sahrawi refugees in Tindouf, Algeria, where only 20 per cent of basic medicines could be provided. In Mauritania, UNHCR continued to face a number of constraints related to insufficient funds, harsh weather and an increase in arrivals due to violence in Northern Mali. Resources for durable solutions, including self-reliance, were extremely limited.

Operations

 
Operations in  Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia are presented in separate chapters. For other UNHCR operations in the subregion, please see below.
 
Western Sahara
 
The main objective of UNHCR’s Confidence Building Measures (CBM) programme is to link the populations in the Tindouf camps and the Western Sahara territory, mainly through family visits and cultural seminars. Over 12,000 were yet to benefit from the programme when activities were suspended in 2014. In 2017, UNHCR continued to maintain minimum operational capacities in Western Sahara and in Tindouf, Algeria in order to restart CBM activities as soon as parties agree on resumption.