-
Crisis Severity0 Very lowVery high 5
-
Impact0 Very lowVery high 5
-
Humanitarian Conditions0 Very lowVery high 5
-
Complexity0 Very lowVery high 5
-
Access ConstraintsNo constraintsExtreme constraints
Special Reports
Overview
Algeria's strategic geographical location at the intersection of sub-Saharan Arica and Europe makes it an important country of transit for migrants, and increasingly a country of origin and destination. Migrants heading to Algeria as a destination or transiting through it are mostly from sub-Saharan Africa; many remain in Algeria when they fail to reach Europe. The majority of migrants arrive in southern Algeria via Niger and Mali and then move northwards towards Algeria's coastal cities, where migrants travel along the Central and Western Mediterranean route.?
Algeria is also a destination country for Palestinians, Syrians and Libyans seeking refuge from conflict affected-areas. In addition, Algeria has hosted over 170,000 of the Sahrawi population in refugee camps near Tindouf in Southwest Algeria since 1975. The harsh conditions and remote location leaves the majority of the refugee population dependent on humanitarian aid to sustain basic needs such as access to food, water and shelter.?
In 2008, Algeria changed its laws to govern foreign nationals' conditions for entry, stay, exist from the country. This law criminalises illegal entry, stay, and exist and leaves the majority of migrants vulnerable at various stages of the migration process.?
The EU INFORM Risk 2022 measures Algeria's risk index at 4/10, Hazard and Exposure index at 5.1/10, Lack of Coping capacity index at 4.4/10 and vulnerability index at 2.9/10 respectively.?
Latest Developments
No significant recent humanitarian developments. This crisis is being monitored by our analysis team.
INFORMATION GAPS AND NEEDS
- Lack of information about the total population in need, including undocumented migrants, asylum seekers, and host communities.
- Lack of data on the exact figures of Palestinian, Syrian and Libyan refugees in Algeria.
- Information about multi-sectoral needs of migrants and asylum seekers in Algeria is limited.
- The data on the Saharawi refugees was last updated in 2017, and only captures the refugees living inside the camps.
KEY PRIORITIES
Protection: Several cases of mass explusions of mirgants from the country have been reported, including women and minors, and people recognised as refugees by UNHCR.?