Algerian Regime, Solely Responsible for Continued Suffering of Tindouf Camps Population – Ambassador –

The Algerian regime is solely responsible for the persistent suffering of the population of the Tindouf camps, preventing its voluntary return to the motherland, and stubbornly refusing its census for more than 40 years, under false pretexts that are unacceptable in terms of international humanitarian law, said Monday Morocco’s Permanent Representative in Geneva, ambassador Omar Zniber. Reacting to the statements of the representative of Algeria who sought to divert for political purposes a debate at the 81st meeting of the Standing Committee of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Zniber denounced the blockade imposed by the Algerian regime to the detained population in the camps of Tindouf in inhumane and degrading conditions, which have further deteriorated in the context of the pandemic Covid-19. The ambassador underlined, in this regard, the full responsibility of the Algerian regime in the diversion of humanitarian aid sent to the inhabitants of the camps of Tindouf, whose suffering has been exploited for decades as a business. He also spoke out against the multiple human rights violations in the said camps, and the most horrific abuses committed against vulnerable groups such as women, in addition to the recruitment of children in armed conflicts and acts of violence. Zniber criticized the devolution by Algeria of its powers to the armed group of the polisario in the Tindouf camps, which is an exceptional situation without precedent in international law. He also drew attention to the militarization of the camps in violation of the principles of international law. After recalling Algeria’s maneuvers to obstruct political and humanitarian efforts regarding the artificial dispute over the Moroccan Sahara, Zniber noted that the Algerian regime, which lacks legitimacy internally, as evidenced by the recent electoral farce, seeks through the Sahara issue, to divert attention to its internal crises, while ignoring the democratic and legitimate demands of the Algerian people for a dignified life.