Working environment
Historically a transit country, Morocco is now also becoming a place of destination. Refugees, of which 55% are from the Syrian Arab Republic (Syria), reside in more than 50 locations across the country, which is a positive trend in terms of local integration, but also represents a challenge for the Government, UNHCR and partners to reach out to the most vulnerable and deliver necessary services.
To address such challenges, UNHCR has adopted a proactive outreach strategy of expanding cash-based interventions to reach the most vulnerable refugees, even in remote locations. Furthermore, UNHCR has increased the capacity of its partners to support UNHCR and the Government with undertaking regular joint outreach missions to remote locations in the field. In line with the Global Compact for Refugees, UNHCR has been expanding partnerships with the private sector to support refugees in Morocco and will continue to do so in 2020.
The National Immigration and Asylum Policy (PNIA), introduced in Morocco in 2013, enables refugees to enjoy protection in Morocco, including against refoulement and access to essential services, such as education, health care and employment. However, gaps in accessing documentation and employment persist, as well as gaps in accessing secondary and tertiary health care, due to refugees’ exclusion from the medical insurance scheme available for impoverished nationals. UNHCR is advocating with the Government to give full access to these services for refugees and will continue to do so in 2020.
Pending the Government’s submission of the draft asylum law to Parliament, UNHCR remains responsible for the registration and refugee status determination (RSD) of asylum-seekers. Those who qualify for refugee status are referred by UNHCR to the Inter-ministerial Commission on Regularization under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Despite its suspension in March 2017, the Commission resumed services in December 2018. In 2020, its role will remain critical for UNHCR-registered refugees to ensure they are documented and have access to formal employment.
Key priorities
In 2020, UNHCR will focus on:
- Supporting the Government in establishing a national asylum system;
- Providing humanitarian assistance and protection to refugees, particularly to the most vulnerable;
- Delivering institutional capacity-building for national actors involved in asylum management;
- Implementing durable solutions for refugees, focusing on local integration or resettlement to a third country for the most vulnerable.