The Problem of Refugees & Asylum-Seekers in Africa

By Aline Cunico Reprint | | Print |

Aline Cunico interviews Marc Fawe ,External Relations Officer for UNHCR in Morocco

Rabat, Mar 7 2011 (IPS) - As hundreds and thousands of refugees and migrant workers continue to be caught up in the political turmoil in North Africa, the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is playing a lead role in reaching out to the displaced providing them mostly with food, shelter and medicines.

Located at the northwest corner of the African continent, Morocco has become a strategic transit point for displaced people , including those seeking refuge in Europe. Morocco is also a destination country when refugees are unable to reach their final goal.

Working with the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and local institutions, the UNHCR also remains the main UN body providing protection for asylum seekers and refugees around the world.

In an interview with the IPS correspondent Aline Cunico, Marc Fawe, the external relations officer for the UNHCR based in the Moroccan capital of Rabat, explains the importance of the organization in Africa , the improvements over the years, and the need for a legal framework for refugees.

Q: Who are are the refugees in North Africa and how does UNHCR differentiate economic migrants and refugees?

A: The refugees in Morocco come mainly from the Sub-Saharan region, with a smaller group coming form the Palestine and Iraq. We currently have 600 sub-saharans, 170 Iraqis and 30 Palestinians . Within the Sub-Saharan communities we have 2 main groups, one from Ivory Coast and one from Congo. They represent 30 % and 27 % of the population. The community in Morocco represents a small group when compared to Egypt, where there are over 30,000 refugees . They are usually on their way to Europe, but end up being stopped here in Morocco. Since the country signed and ratified the convention of 1951, our role is to support the government in getting an institution and legal framework for asylum, while assisting the refugees, in the mean time.

We register them as asylum seekers. We schedule an interview with the protection unit and then, through a long interview, determine their status as recognized refugees or not.

Q: Morocco has serious problems concerning human trafficking. How does UNHCR address this issue and are trafficking victims eligible for refugee status?

A: In some cases, we can recognize and give the protection of the refugee system to a trafficked person, especially if they left their country for fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion– the reasons listed on the Convention of Refugee Status.

The main problem is for women and children who are victims of trafficking in their country of origin, because before considering them for refugee status, we have to consider the guidelines of the convention.

In the past 3 years, the United Nations and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has launched a study on trafficking and smuggling, which is a very sensitive issue. We are working very cautiously on this study, as we were recommended by Ministry of Justice to keep a low profile . It tackles the issue on a global level, by analyzing the trafficking of people from a country to Morocco, or Moroccan women and children trafficked to another country. There is a recommendation to protect the victims, to prevent the phenomenon and to punish the traffickers.

In Morocco, we have plenty of people from Nigeria applying for asylum. We know that some are involved in trafficking and involved in prostitution networks , and sometimes we are not able to give them refugee status, which is a pity, because we are aware of their vulnerability and need of protection.

Q: What are the options for settlement?

A: it is a matter of eligibility. We have a small operation of 20-40 persons a year. We reserve the right for resettlement to the most vulnerable persons– someone who is at risk here in Morocco. In September, we had information that a Tunisian involved in political activities was under threat and there was pressure from Tunisian authorities, so we had to resettled him. We also resettled a teenage girl that had been involved in human trafficking , and had criminals threatening her here in Morocco. The major constraint is usually the condition of eligibility from resettlement countries such as the United States or France.

Q: There is currently a concern for a wave of migration, due to the recent events in Libya, Tunisia and Egypt. Are you expecting any consequences for Morocco?

A: I am not aware of anything right now. It might happen. We also have some recent conflicts in the Sub-Saharan zone, like in Ivory Coast, but we haven’t seen consequences of these particular conflicts yet.

Because of recent mass deportations of illegal migrants, there was an increase in asylum demands, but it is mostly related to local conditions.