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Rabat – UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed once again his profound concern regarding the dire humanitarian situation in the Polisario-run, Algerian-controlled, Tindouf camps.
In his new report, Guterres said he remains concerned about the “effects of rising food prices,” which continue to be “severe.”
“Combined with extreme environmental conditions and limited economic opportunities, this situation leaves many Sahrawis malnourished and highly vulnerable,” he said.
Despite the efforts made by UN bodies like UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, and WHO to address the myriad challenges facing Sahrawis, many continue to endure severe human rights violations – including malnutrition that leads to diseases such as anemia among children, pregnant women, and ordinary citizens.
The ongoing crisis is exacerbated by Algeria’s refusal to permit a census that would accurately determine the actual number of refugees in the camps, currently estimated at around 90,000.
Testimonies from former members of the Polisario Front suggest that only about 20% of the camp residents are Sahrawis, while the remainder consists of individuals from various tribes, including those from Algeria, further complicating the situation.
Despite millions of dollars in aid directed towards improving the conditions in the camps from both UN and various other agencies, reports continue to indicate a deterioration of living standards for the Sahrawis.
Many observers link this decline to the embezzlement of funds intended for humanitarian assistance.
Sahrawi NGOs have reported instances of mismanagement and misappropriation of resources with well-documented accounts highlighting the involvement of Polisario leadership in collaboration with Algerian authorities.
A 2021 report from the Tindouf Autonomy Support Forum renewed the growing concerns over a severe health crisis in the camps, attributing the situation to a lack of medical equipment which were often smuggled rather than reaching those in need.
In 2015, the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) also exposed the embezzlement of humanitarian aid between 2003 and 2007. The report said the Polisario leadership had been selling aid intended for refugees in Mauritania and sub-Saharan markets to finance the purchase of weapons, further exacerbating the suffering of Sahrawis in the camps.
The findings come amid alarming concerns about the situation in Tindouf.
In his 2024 report, Guterres said an assessment of food security indicated “worsening conditions in the camps. This situation is “fuelled by a 30 percent reduction in the dried food basket owing to the rise in food prices.”
According to the UN Food Security Assessment, over 80 % of the camp population have relied on food assistance, Guterres said.
“Meanwhile, UNHCR supported refugees in five camps with the most basic services, including water, through drilling boreholes and distribution networks,” he added.
