North Africa

Response in 2019

UNHCR observed a notable increase in both the number of people of concern as well as the needs of refugees, asylum-seekers, IDPs, IDP returnees, migrants, and stateless persons across North Africa in 2019. Due, in part, to continued mixed movements and escalating hostilities in Libya, the overall refugee and asylum-seeker population in the sub-region continued to rise as protection and access concerns become more complex.  
 
UNHCR’s presence in Libya continued to be restricted due to political and security concerns. As clashes broke out in Tripoli, limited access to people of concern impacted UNHCR’s ability to deliver life-saving activities and protection services. Meanwhile, fighting and hostilities led to a 50% rise in IDPs, with 343,200 people recorded as displaced by the end of the year. Emergency evacuations continued throughout the year to Italy, Niger, and Romania, and a new Emergency Transit Mechanism was established in Rwanda. The number of rescues at sea and disembarkations fell by 40%, with some 9,000 persons intercepted by the Libyan Coast Guard. UNHCR faced impediments in accessing and registering people of concern in detention, although the number of people detained reduced by over 50% over the course of the year. Due to security threats and significant overcrowding, UNHCR reevaluated the status of the Gathering and Departure Facility (GDF) as it evolved from a transit and hosting facility towards an open centre. Support focused on urban assistance packages while continuing to find solutions for people of concern living in urban areas.
 
Expanding the protection space remained a central objective across the North Africa sub-region. In Egypt, UNHCR continued to advocate for the inclusion of refugees and asylum-seekers of all nationalities in the public health and education systems. In Morocco, efforts to enhance inclusion and self-sustainability of refugees were advanced through multi-sectoral programmes promoting employment and social cohesion with host communities. As Tunisia saw a threefold increase in registered refugees and asylum-seekers in 2019, UNHCR began emergency preparedness and contingency planning with the Government in the event of a possible influx from Libya. Advocacy continued with the Governments of Algeria, Egypt, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia regarding the adoption of national asylum legislation, with UNHCR providing technical guidance and support where necessary.

The greatest unmet needs in the sub-region were recorded in Libya where a combination of active armed conflict, mixed movements of refugees and migrants, restricted access to territory, lack of durable solutions, and limited funding resulted in a highly complex and unfavorable protection environment. Refugees and asylum-seekers, the majority of whom lived in urban areas, became increasingly dependent on UNHCR’s support due to a lack of access to basic national services. Camp-based refugees in Algeria and Mauritania continued to face shortages in food assistance, essential drugs and medical equipment, sanitation services, and drinking water.