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Rabat – Activists reiterated their concerns about the situation of Sahrawis, including children in the Tindouf camps during the UN 4th Committee on Thursday.
Nancy Huff, president of Teach the Children International, recalled Polisario’s involvement in the embezzlement of humanitarian aid meant for Sahrawis.
The activist cited a report from the European Anti-Fraud Office, documented Polisario’s involvement in the embezzlement of food and other humanitarian aid directed to refugees in Algeria’s Tindouf camps.
The 2015 report covered the period between 2003 and 2007. The report exposes the involvement of Polisario leadership in embezzling and selling humanitarian aid within Mauritania and sub-Saharan markets.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also expressed concerns about the situation in Tindouf in his latest report on the situation in Western Sahara.
The report, which Morocco World News received a copy of, was discussed at the UN committee and included warnings from the UN chief of an “alarming trend of malnutrition” in the camps.
“The refugees were at risk of serious food insecurity and malnutrition,” the report said, recalling the recent cuts of up to 80% in food rations for Sahrawis.
In addition to Huff, President of Christian Democratic Women International Anna Maria Stame-Cervone, spoke of the human rights violations, particularly against children in Tindouf.
Stame condemned Polisario’s recruiting and “mistreating” of children in the military.
“Anna Maria Stame of Il Cenacolo spoke of the organization recruiting and mistreating child soldiers in their training camps,” a statement from the UN said, adding that the concerns were echoed by other activists.
The UN said the activists at the committee’s meeting also decried the state of education in the camps.
Morocco has repeatedly called on the international community to intervene and put an end to children’s recruitment in the military.
Morocco’s Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita called on Algeria to shoulder its full responsibility with regard to the protection of children living under inhumane conditions in its territory.
Algeria hosts, finances, arms, and supports the Polisario Front, a separatist group claiming independence in Western Sahara.
Read Also: Western Sahara: UNSG Report Shatters Algeria’s ‘Observer’ Claims
