‘Morocco places humanitarian action at the heart of its foreign policy and African cooperation, guided by the visionary leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI,’ declared Ambassador Mohamed Arrouchi, Morocco’s Permanent Representative to the African Union (AU) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, during a public session of the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) on refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and humanitarian aid in Africa.

The Kingdom, under the enlightened leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, has prioritized humanitarian action as a cornerstone of its foreign policy and African cooperation, demonstrating unwavering commitment to alleviating crises wherever they arise across the continent, Arrouchi emphasized.

Arrouchi highlighted that Morocco’s humanitarian efforts extend beyond emergency aid or mobile hospitals, encompassing a comprehensive strategy focused on sustainable solutions to support affected populations. This approach is rooted in co-development, expertise-sharing, and the adoption of best practices to foster long-term resilience.

The diplomat underscored that Morocco’s humanitarian strategy also addresses the impacts of climate change and desertification, which are already intensifying humanitarian crises on the continent by increasing the number of climate refugees. He stressed the importance of responsible governance in humanitarian action to ensure aid reaches intended beneficiaries without diversion or exploitation.

‘Our goal is to ensure that those in need are not only recipients of aid but also active participants in shaping solutions that uplift their communities,’ Arrouchi stated. He emphasized that Morocco advocates for a multidimensional approach to humanitarian challenges in Africa, integrating humanitarian action with conflict prevention, mediation, peacebuilding, and development to address the root causes of forced displacement.

The Ambassador reiterated the need to strengthen the resilience of communities affected by conflict, natural disasters, and climate shocks to reduce their vulnerability to future crises.

Arrouchi also stressed the importance of enhancing Africa’s capacity to anticipate, prevent, and respond to future humanitarian crises, particularly those exacerbated by climate change. This includes developing early warning systems, preparedness mechanisms, and resilience strategies tailored to the continent’s realities.

He called for greater transparency, accountability, and evaluation in humanitarian action to ensure aid reaches those in need and to prevent diversion, manipulation, or exploitation of resources.

The diplomat highlighted the necessity of improving data collection, monitoring, and management for refugees and internally displaced persons, using credible, verified, and regularly updated information to enhance the efficiency of humanitarian responses and ensure resources are allocated effectively.

Arrouchi noted that Africa is currently facing an alarming humanitarian situation, with unprecedented waves of people fleeing conflicts and climate-related disasters, compounded by economic slowdowns, food insecurity, and malnutrition in several regions. He described the humanitarian needs as exceptional, yet collective responses have often fallen short due to national, regional, and continental constraints.

‘In the face of this crisis, the focus must shift to what is operational and pragmatic,’ he asserted. ‘We need sustainable solutions and proactive proposals that illuminate the path toward an optimal humanitarian order in Africa.’

The Ambassador called for prioritizing preventive action to address increasingly frequent and complex shocks.