The talks dealt with developments in the Sahara and the Moroccan initiative to grant autonomy to the southern provinces, relations with the Office of the High Commissariat for Refugees in Morocco, the status of Moroccan citizens detained in the Tindouf camps, and the fate of humanitarian aid in light of Algeria and the Polisario refusal to allow UNHCR and international humanitarian organizations to count the number of detainees in the camps
Mr. Guterres told National TV on Thursday that the High Commissioner for Refugees, cut the volume of humanitarian aid to the Tindouf camps to 90 thousand people instead of 158 thousand people.
Previously, Council Chairman, Mr. Khalihenna sent an explanatory letter to Mr. Guterres, on the humanitarian situation of the population of the Tindouf camps on January 30, 2007 outlining the plan of Polisario and Algeria on the amplification of the number of people in camps and allegations that they are threatened of famine, in which he stressed that the existence of the camps "has been used as an excuse to exploit international assistance. Whereas, in fact, without those camps, Polisario will have no more reason to exist. Thus, the provision of aid becomes a political and commercial issue. "
Mr. Khalihenna stressed in his letter, which was also addressed to the World Food Program that the Polisario has been using for more than 30 years the population in Tindouf camps "as a tool for barter and an asset to generate inexhaustible assistance that is converted down by some leaders of the Polisario, selling it in different markets in Mauritania, Algeria and Mali."
The Council head, in his letter to UNHCR, called for "continuing assistance without interruption, provided that it goes to the people that deserve it," explaining that this is only possible through direct supervision of UNHCR and WFP by distributing it to the population of the camps, conducting an honest census of persons eligible and forcing Polisario to enable the disadvantaged to return to their homes, and not to use them as a political weapon. "
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees held talks on Thursday with Prime Minister Abbas El Fassi, Minister of the Interior, Chakib Benmoussa, and Mr. Ahmed Herzenni, President of the Advisory Council for Human Rights.
The meeting at the headquarters of the Council was attended by the Secretary-General of the Council, Dr. Maouelainin Ben Khalihenna Maouelainin , Vice-President, Mr. Khadad Mr. Moussaoui, Mr. Moulay Ahmed Moghaizlat, member of the Council, and Mr. Omar Hilal, Ambassador Permanent Representative of Morocco to the United Nations Office at Geneva.
Source: CORCAS
News on Western Sahara issue/ CORCAS