Syrian refugees trapped in desert on Moroccan border with Algeria in dire need of assistance.

Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Spokesperson’ Statement.

“Algeria has provisionally lifted the system set up to welcome and to take in charge the group of Syrian nationals stranded in Figuig (Morocco) since 17 April, regretting that despite all the arrangements made to host this group of migrants, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was unable to reach a solution.

As part of the implementation of the decision of the highest Algerian authorities to host, on an exceptional and humanitarian basis, at the request of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the group of Syrian nationals stranded in Figuig on Moroccan territory Since last April 17, the Algerian government has sent an official delegation in Beni-Ounif, which was joined by the UNHCR representative in Algeria, Hamdi Boukhari. A special mechanism has been put in place and adequate human and material resources have been mobilized to provide decent accommodation and provide the necessary care in accordance with the Algerian people’s hospitality traditions to the group in question. Despite all the steps taken to accommodate this group of migrants, UNHCR was not able to reach a solution. In the face of this regrettable situation, Algeria is obliged to temporarily lift the system set up for their reception and care, in accordance with international rules and practice in this field. Algeria had decided to host, on a humanitarian basis, the group of Syrian nationals, including a pregnant woman and children stranded in Morocco, it is recalled.

This exceptional humanitarian gesture, which Algeria consents, takes into account the particularly difficult situation in which this group finds itself and proceeds from the will of Algeria to put an end to it in this holy month of Ramadhan by welcoming on its territory the members Of this group of Syrian migrants, to ensure their accommodation, to provide them with the necessary care and to enable them, if they so wish, to join other members of their families in a grouping Family in other countries.

Algeria consents to this duty out of solidarity with the brotherly people of Syria in the ordeal it is going through and it is this same duty of solidarity that has led it to welcome on its soil since the beginning of the crisis More than 40,000 Syrians who have benefited from a system enabling them to enjoy facilities such as residence, free movement, schooling, access to medical care, housing and the exercise of Commercial activities”.