Being a refugee in Morocco : Analysing the livelihoods of refugees in Morocco and the relation to geographical and social mobility

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2011-08
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en
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The geographical position of Morocco on the border of North-Africa with Europe makes Morocco an attractive country for irregular migrants who wish to go to Europe. Within the flows of migration there are refugees from West- and Central-Africa and the Middle East who seek to find a safe haven in Morocco. The status of Morocco as a middle income country and being a constitutional monarchy supplemented with the close vicinity of Europe attracts a relatively small number of refugees to Morocco. Some refugees come to Morocco because of existing ties with Moroccans through student exchange programs. UNHCR’s Office in Rabat has recognized around 800 refugees under the Refugee Convention and the AU Convention. The living conditions of refugees in Morocco are however problematic. Moroccan authorities neglect to recognize the presence of refugees on their territory and therefore do not execute the rights refugees are entitled to under the Refugee Convention. Morocco ratified this convention in 1957 and until 2004 the B.R.A. office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs processed asylum applications. However this office was closed down and so has the legal procedure to process asylum application and grant refugees a refugee status. The aim of this research is to contribute to a deeper understanding of the livelihood situation of refugees in Morocco and the relation between livelihoods, social and geographical mobility. This research has a social and academic relevance. Through analyzing the livelihood situation of refugees, constraints and limitations can be analysed and addressed. Although mobility is mentioned in livelihood studies on refugees, this link is not often explicitly researched and I see an important task to provide a deeper insight in the relation between livelihood situation of refugees in Morocco and the social and geographical mobility. I argue that looking at the livelihood situation of refugees and their geographical and social mobility will provides more insight in, for example, the reasons why refugees move on to other countries. Looking at the livelihood situation and analysing the needs and shortcomings in the livelihood situations of refugees in Morocco will provide insights to help understand why refugees wish to be resettled. The central Research Question discussed in this research is: How is the livelihood situation of refugees in Morocco related to their geographical and social mobility?
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen