Refugee Issue: United Nations Offers Mediation Between Morocco and Algeria

The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) on Tuesday offered to help evacuate Syrian refugees who have been woefully stranded on the Moroccan-Algerian border since mid-April 2017.

“Forty-one Syrian refugees have been stranded on the remote Algerian-Moroccan border since 17 April 2017. 

Algeria and Morocco consider for that matter that this group is not on their respective territory, but the UNHCR calls for swift action to bring these hapless refugees to a safe haven. 

Hinging its move on humanitarian considerations, the UNHCR says it is ready to offer its good offices to coordinate the marooned refugees’ smooth evacuation and to save their lives”.

“We urge Algeria and Morocco to work with us to put an end to this dangerous and intolerable situation for those stranded Syrian refugees stranded who are overcome by despair,” the UN Agency said.

“There is an urgent need for a speedy settlement of this burning issue, and we call upon the two Governments to take immediate and constructive steps to comply with international humanitarian obligations and to evacuate this vulnerable group,” it underlined to this effect.

“UNHCR calls for the provision of transit and urgent and safe entry for Syrian refugees who are stranded and are in difficult conditions as they’ve been left on the lurch on the Algerian-Moroccan border,” the statement further said.

Human Rights Watch confirmed a few days ago that Morocco had breached its international obligations to Syrian refugees after harshly expelling about 50 Syrian refugees from its territory.

The Human Rights Organization also quoted testimonies of a number of Syrian refugees who belied Rabat’s account of the pseudo deportation of these refugees from Algeria to the Moroccan Kingdom.