Tindouf camps are suffering from food shortage as a result of the lack of donations from the international community, as stated by the UN, whose agencies UNHCR , WFP, and UNICEF are actively raising awareness about the situation. Under the pressure of global challenges, this support has now become insufficient to meet the camps’ current needs.
The camps monthly food rations decreased by 75% which amounts to less than half of the recommended daily caloric intake per person. Each beneficiary now receives less than 5 kg of basic commodities, instead of 17 kg per month. Up till now, the exact number of the inhabitants of Tindouf camps remains unknown since the last Spanish census in 1974.
M’rabih Ahmed Mahmoud, who escaped from Tindouf camps a few years ago, revealed to Barlaman Today that families in Tindouf camps are suffering from lack of food and unemployment. He went on to add that UNHCR, who is currently distributing food in the camps, decreased donations due to the current crisis. Today, each inhabitant of Tindouf camps has the right to 1,5 Kg of flour, 1 Kg of sugar, 1 L of oil, and 1 Kg of beans or lentils on a monthly basis.
M’rabih Ahmed Mahmoud stressed on the fact that the families are receiving food exclusively from UNHCR, debunking the fake discourse that suggests that these camps are benefitting from donations from some states. He went on to add that it is difficult to survive with the donations, especially for childless married couples seeing as the only way to accumulate big portions is to have more family members. He also noted that the economic and social conditions are critical with jobs that pay between 15 and 30 USD per month. It is worthy to note that this was the situation when M’rabih Ahmed Mahmoud was there, currently it is much worse, namely in terms of food rations necessary to sustain life. Needless to say, this drop in donations has greatly affected the inhabitants of Tindouf, who find themselves in a precarious situation with no identification papers or refugee cards to help them get the aid they need.
During the 51st session of the UN Human Rights Council that took place in on September 20th, “Libertad es su derecho”, a Spanish human rights association, led by Elisa Pavon and Bienvenida Campillo, demonstrated how Tindouf camps are facing oppression at the hands of polisario, with the knowledge of the host country. This transformed those camps into “the largest open-air prison in the world.”
[bs-quote quote=”We dared to break the silence and fight for the rights of a population living in a society indoctrinated by hatred and fear, where illegal trafficking has turned the camps into a hotbed of social inequality, insecurity and lack of protection” style=”default” align=”left” color=”” author_name=”Elisa Pavon and Bienvenida Campillo” author_job=”leaders of “Libertad es su derecho” ” author_avatar=”” author_link=””][/bs-quote]
Indeed, polisario and the host country violate the rights of the population that range from denying them the right to a name, a nationality, an identity card, to healthcare, quality education, freedom of speech and opinion, and protection against poverty and any form of violence. It is no wonder that the population is dreaming to escape from this miserable life, without freedom or rights, in difficult climatic conditions, and under the torture of a regime of terror.
The two Spanish human rights activists described how they have been victims of threats, insults, and various practices of intimidation from the polisario and its entourage.
Aicha Duihi, a Sahraoui militant, shared via Twitter her statement at the 51st session of the UN Human Rights Council, on September 20th: “Algeria as a host country demands the opening of camps in the face of mechanisms for the protection of human rights and international organizations.”
"المدافعون عن #حقوق_الانسان في #مخيمات_تندوف يتعرضون للاعتقال والتعذيب والتشهير والوصم بالخيانة لردعهم عن مواقفهم"
"#الجزائر كبلد مضيف مطالب بفتح المخيمات في وجه آليات حماية حقوق الانسان والمنظمات الدولية"#الجزائر_توفر_الحصانة_للبوليساريو #الدورة_51#مجلس_حقوق_الإنسان pic.twitter.com/WENCZBhAzM— Aicha Duihi (@2006_aicha) September 22, 2022