AU-PSC: Morocco Calls for Census and Registration of Climate Change Refugees in Africa

Addis Ababa – Morocco called Thursday before the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU) for the census and registration of refugees and displaced persons victims of climate change in Africa, and their protection from any kind of exploitation.

Speaking at the AU PSC meeting devoted to the theme “Climate Change, Peace and Security in Africa”, Ambassador Mohamed Arrouchi, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom to the AU and UNECA, stressed the imperative of the census and registration of refugees and displaced persons victims of climate change in Africa, calling for their protection from any kind of exploitation.

The Moroccan diplomat noted with concern the increasing disproportionate impacts of climate change on Africa and the challenges posed to the socio-economic development of the continent.

While recalling the number of refugees likely to reach 250 million people due to climate change, the Moroccan diplomat called for the implementation of the relevant decisions of the conference which request the AU Commission to ensure the civilian character of the camps, the protection, census and registration of refugees and displaced persons and their protection against any form of exploitation.

Arrouchi who leads the Moroccan delegation to this session, called for a comprehensive approach to address the challenges posed by climate change and which interfere with peace and security on our continent.

The Moroccan delegation stressed in this context the need to continue to support and strengthen the three climate commissions established at the COP22 held in Marrakech in 2016, in order to facilitate the implementation of the Paris Agreement throughout Africa, focusing on the Sahel region, the Congo Basin and African island states.