A humanitarian program in northern Mauritania is adopting biometric technology to streamline healthcare delivery for thousands of patients without official identification.

HumanCoop, a volunteer-driven medical organization operating in the Tiris Zemmour region, is introducing facial biometric solutions developed by Identy.io during its missions in Bir Mogrein and Zouerate. The system will generate unique digital patient records for individuals who lack identity documents or recognized nationality, addressing long-standing challenges in medical documentation.

Data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees indicates that more than 350,000 people across North Africa and the Middle East lack formal identification. The absence of documentation often complicates medical recordkeeping. Patients who attend multiple consultations frequently end up with duplicate or fragmented health histories, a gap that can undermine diagnostic accuracy and follow-up treatment.

HumanCoop delivers both primary and specialized care in the region, conducting between 600 and 1,200 consultations per mission in Bir Mogrein, in addition to carrying out surgical missions in Zouerate. By embedding biometric verification into its operations, the organization expects to reduce record duplication, accelerate access to patient histories, and improve treatment traceability.

A key feature of Identy.io’s platform is its offline functionality. The system processes and stores data directly on mobile devices without relying on cloud connectivity, which is critical for teams operating in remote Sahara Desert locations. This approach also strengthens data privacy protections for vulnerable communities.

The initial phase will focus on building a biometric patient database in Bir Mogrein, with plans to gradually expand the system to additional operational areas. Local staff and volunteers will receive training on implementation, while ongoing evaluations will monitor improvements in identification accuracy, service delivery efficiency, and long-term patient follow-up.

Established in 2020, HumanCoop works to provide healthcare access to underserved populations in northern Mauritania, particularly in areas beyond the reach of traditional medical infrastructure. Identy.io, which specializes in contactless mobile biometric solutions, has previously collaborated with organizations supporting vulnerable groups and combating human trafficking to establish secure digital identities.

The move signals a broader shift within the humanitarian sector, as organizations increasingly explore digital identity tools to address systemic barriers to healthcare access among displaced and undocumented populations.