Morocco has sharply criticized what it calls a “blatant humanitarian anomaly” in the Tindouf camps, where thousands of people have remained stranded for nearly fifty years. Speaking in Geneva at the 76th session of the UNHCR Executive Committee, Morocco urged the UN Refugee Agency to finally take full responsibility by launching an independent registration of the populations living in the camps and by ensuring unrestricted humanitarian access to the region, located in southwestern Algeria.
Omar Zniber, Morocco’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, warned that neutrality in humanitarian work should never become an excuse for passivity in the face of long-standing injustice. He called out what he described as the international community’s disturbing complacency toward a situation that has persisted for decades—one that, he noted, has no precedent in the history of the UNHCR.
Zniber stressed that key humanitarian principles—neutrality, impartiality, transparency, and accountability—must be upheld without compromise. He reminded the audience that as far back as 2005, the UNHCR itself had called for an independent census of the Tindouf camp populations. Yet, nearly twenty years later, that call remains unanswered.
The Moroccan diplomat also demanded tighter oversight of humanitarian aid flows, emphasizing that assistance should reach those who genuinely need it. He expressed serious concern over the ongoing militarization of the camps, which undermines their officially civilian status and blocks open access for aid organizations.
Morocco, Zniber said, remains committed to its humanitarian tradition and continues to implement a migration policy rooted in strong legal frameworks. The country supports international humanitarian efforts, including through regular contributions to the UNHCR’s work.
He called for a more transparent and accountable approach by the UNHCR, one that allows for greater involvement from member states and strengthens the agency’s effectiveness on the ground. Morocco, he said, remains steadfast in its support for the core values of international humanitarian work and for the UNHCR’s role in upholding them.
With more than 120 million people currently displaced worldwide, Morocco also reminded the international community of its shared duty to protect the dignity and rights of refugees across the globe.
Responding to the concerns raised, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to remaining non-political in its mission. He acknowledged the urgent need for a sustainable political resolution and pledged continued vigilance over the civilian nature of the Tindouf camps, along with ongoing humanitarian support in the region.
