Morocco’s Vaccine Drive Overlooks Undocumented Migrants, Refugees

Although the decision to make the vaccine free for "all Moroccans and resident foreigners" is appreciable, it nevertheless excludes a portion of residents, including irregular migrants or those who have recently become irregular, refugees and Moroccans without papers. Several NGOs and associations calling for "vaccine for all" have recently made this sad observation. This situation is explained by the conditions required to be included in the list of beneficiaries of the anti-Covid-19 vaccine, said Said Tbel, member and head of the Central Immigration and Asylum Commission within AMDH, who notes that these inequalities have been well observed during the lockdown.

"Regarding irregular migrants or undocumented persons, there is an initial problem, because they still struggle to be accepted in our public hospitals," said the associative actor. Moreover, due to the lockdown, "most applicants had difficulty renewing their residence permit. The percentage of those who succeeded is minimal and this figure has dropped to less than 5%. The conditions for obtaining a residence permit have also been tightened, with the requirement of having a lease, a work certificate, etc.," laments Said Tbel. The same observation is made by Beyeth Gueck, president of the Bank of Solidarity, who denounces "the new obstacles and requirements that prevent many of them from regularizing their situation and having no document to be able to benefit from the vaccine."

Also, the association suggests "appointing guarantors for the irregulars and drawing up lists for their vaccination, in order to be able to ensure traceability." Said Taib, for his part, recalled "the vulnerability of these people who generally live in communities where the virus could proliferate." Thus, he pleads, the watchword must be: "vaccinating everyone is possible."