Morocco — humanitarian situation

Morocco is experiencing an active Desert Locust infestation requiring ongoing monitoring and response. In May 2026, several hopper groups and a few hopper bands were observed over widespread areas, with numerous immature adult groups forming and a few mature adult groups present along the Draa Valley (FAO). Scattered hoppers and hopper groups were also reported in Algeria. The remaining hopper groups and bands are expected to fledge during the forecast period, leading to the formation of additional adult groups. Seasonal precipitation models indicate above-normal rainfall is forecast in northern Africa during July and August 2026, though below-normal rainfall is expected across the northern Sahel from Senegal to the Red Sea in the coming months (FAO). From September onwards, wetter conditions are anticipated to develop across northern and eastern Africa in association with a positive Indian Ocean Dipole and persisting El Niño conditions. Morocco continues to serve as a transit country for mixed migratory movements across North Africa, alongside Algeria, Tunisia, and Mauritania (UNHCR). Labor mobility and skills profiling activities are ongoing to better understand the profiles of refugees and asylum seekers in these countries, which remain important destination, departure, and transit points for migratory movements in and beyond the region. Mixed and onward movements of refugees and migrants continue to result in high-risk, life-threatening journeys and pose significant challenges for States, host communities, and humanitarian actors across countries of origin, asylum, transit, and destination (UNHCR). Evidence from the Atlantic Route documents migrant smuggling dynamics and protection risks on irregular journeys to the Canary Islands, with 1,216 surveys conducted with migrants and refugees in Mauritania and Spain between March and September 2025 highlighting the realities of Atlantic crossings and the diversity of smuggling arrangements (MMC).