Rabat – The Tindouf camps in Algeria are experiencing an array of humanitarian crises, including malnutrition, the latest report on Western Sahara from the UN Secretary-General highlights.
In the report, obtained by Morocco World News, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned the international community of an “alarming trend of malnutrition” and recalled the recent cuts of up to 80% in food rations for Sahrawis.
“The refugees were at risk of serious food insecurity and malnutrition,” the UN report said, recalling a recent statement from the UN System in Algeria outlining the urgent and critical needs related to food insecurity in Tindouf.
In addition to food insecurity, healthcare, quality education, energy, and shelter were also identified as alarming concerns in the camps.
The report also mentioned severe human rights challenges, including Polisario violations such as restricting the rights of freedom of expression and recruiting child soldiers.
The document reiterated Guterres’ concerns about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the camps, arguing that “living standards for the vulnerable camp-based refugees worsened due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of the rise in global food and fuel prices and supply chain disruptions.”
The report showed that a solution to the situation remains out of reach, warning that the challenges in the camps are becoming “increasingly alarming with serious short-term threats on refugee populations’ food security and access to basic services.”
Several reports linked the food insecurity in the region to embezzlement of aid meant for the Sahrawi populations.
One of the well-documented cases of said fraud was cited in the report of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) in 2015.
The report exposed the embezzlement of aid between the period of 2003 and 2017, showing that Polisario leadership was directly involved in selling Tindouf’s humanitarian aid in Mauritania and sub-Saharan markets under Algeria’s watch, without any accountability.
Human rights violations
Despite Algeria and Polisario denying responsibility, several organizations have called on the international community to intervene to help children in Tindouf.
In 2021, the #The Save_the_children_of_Tindouf hashtag went viral on social networks to urge the international community to intervene to end the alarming situation facing children in the camps.
Morocco’s government repeatedly warned the international community about the situation in the camps.
In April, Morocco’s Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita reiterated concerns regarding the situation of children in the Tindouf camps.
“The indoctrination and recruitment of children by the armed militias of the ‘Polisario’ constitute an inhuman crime, and a denial of the basic rights of recruited children, as well as a flagrant violation of the resolutions adopted by the Security Council on the matter,” the minister said.
The FM also urged Algeria to shoulder its full responsibility with regard to the protection of children living in its territory.
