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Researched and Compiled by the Refugee Documentation Centre of Ireland on Tuesday 13 & Wednesday 14 May 2014

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Researched and Compiled by the Refugee Documentation Centre of Ireland on Tuesday 13 & Wednesday 14 May 2014 Algeria - Researched and compiled by the Refugee Documentation Centre of Ireland on Tuesday 13 & Wednesday 14 May 2014 Information on refugee camps in the Tindouf region including: Current human rights situation; In April 2013 a publication released by the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice & Human Rights notes that: …“the UN has failed to resolve the conflict, leaving nearly the entire Sahrawi population, comprised of roughly 500,000 people, without effective human rights protection…The situation is particularly urgent for the more than 125,000 Sahrawi refugees who subsist in what were intended to be temporary camps established near Tindouf, Algeria in 1976” (Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice & Human Rights (18 April 2013) Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice & Human Rights). This report also notes: “Sahrawi refugees have subsisted in isolated refugee camps under extreme conditions for almost four decades. In spite of international efforts to provide more than 125,000 people with the basic necessities of life, conditions in the refugee camps have negative consequences for the physical and psychological integrity of the inhabitants…The delegation observed conditions in the camps that cannot be accepted as part of any permanent standard of living. These conditions include, among others, permanent exposure to extreme heat, limited electricity and sanitation, lack of variety in diet, and very limited career alternatives…The camps are situated in a harsh desert environment that does not allow for farming. The residents are dependent on humanitarian assistance from the World Food Programme, ECHO, AECID, and UNHCR” (Ibid). A document issued in December 2013 by the UNHCR states that the: “…Sahrawi refugees living in five camps in Tindouf are almost totally dependent on humanitarian assistance, as opportunities for income generation are scarce” (UNHCR (1 December 2013) Algeria, p.1). A report published by the House of Commons Library in February 2014 states: “There are some 90,000 refugees from Western Sahara in the refugee camps across the border near the Algerian town of Tindouf. Deprivation in the camps is rife, while minors represent about 60% of the population. A nutrition survey in 2012 found that 8% of the camps’ residents were acutely malnourished and 17% were underweight. A quarter of residents showed signs of restricted growth because of malnutrition” (House of Commons Library (11 February 2014) Western Sahara, p.4). In May 2014 a document issued by the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly notes: “…the committee is nevertheless concerned about a number of alleged human rights breaches in Western Sahara, as well as the humanitarian situation in the Tindouf camps…” (Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (13 May 2014) Western Sahara: a spirit of compromise in order to achieve a political solution, p.1). This report also notes a concern: “…about alleged human rights breaches in the Sahrawi refugee camps near Tindouf, in particular in terms of freedom of expression, assembly, association and movement, as well as the humanitarian situation in the camps…” (ibid, p.3). Names of the camps; In May 2014 the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly produced a report which states that: “Tindouf which is home to four Sahrawi camps, “Aousserd”, “Dakhla”, El Ayoun” and “Smara”, named after the main towns in Western Sahara [and a] school camp “February 27”, known as “Boujdour”…” (Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (13 May 2014) Western Sahara: a spirit of compromise in order to achieve a political solution, p.16). In December 2013 the Jamestown Foundation states that: “…the exiled Sahrawis now live in six refugee camps housing 150,000 people centered around the Algerian town of Tindouf, home to an Algerian military base…The four main camps are named for towns in the Western Sahara – al-Aaiun, Smara, Awserd and Dakhla. "February 27" is a small camp and the administration is run from the Rabouni camp” (Jamestown Foundation (3 December 2013) Oil Exploration and Political Stalemate Threaten to Trigger Renewed Conflict in the Western Sahara). A report published in December 2013 by the United States Agency for International Development notes: “Located in such relative isolation between 30 and 180 km from the Southwest Algerian town of Tindouf, the Sahrawi from the five camps of Awserd, Boujdour, Dakhla, Layoune and Smara still reside in the barren deserts of Southwest Algeria with limited access to livelihood opportunities; families are largely dependent on humanitarian assistance for survival” (United States Agency for International Development (16 December 2013) Life in Southwest Algeria: A Civil Service Officer from USAID Visits the Remote Sahrawi Refugee Camps). Laayoune, Awserd, Smara & Dakhla & are listed as camps in a UNHCR publication issued in December 2013 (UNHCR (1 December 2013) Algeria, p.1[map]). A publication released in April 2013 by the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice & Human Rights notes the: “…Sahrawi refugee camps near Tindouf, Algeria, located in the Sahara desert. The refugees are divided in five camps: Smara, Laayoune, 27 of February, Ausserd, and Dajla” (Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice & Human Rights (18 April 2013) Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice & Human Rights). In May 2012 a document released by the European Commission Humanitarian Aid department points out that: “…the Sahrawi refugees installed themselves in the region of Tindouf in 1975 hoping to return home. Today, they live in four refugee camps - Dakhla, Smara, Laâyoune and Ausserd” (European Commission Humanitarian Aid department (21 May 2012) ECHO Factsheet Sahrawi Refugees (May 2012)). How they operate; Reuters in April 2014 notes the: “…Polisario Front-run refugee camps near Tindouf, Algeria” (Reuters (17 April 2014) No U.N. rights monitoring in U.S. draft on Western Sahara mission). A report published in February 2014 by the House of Commons Library notes that: “The Polisario authorities are fully in control of the camps…” (House of Commons Library (11 February 2014) Western Sahara, p.5). In February 2014 a document issued by the United States Department of State commenting on events of 2013 points out that: “Sahrawi refugees lived predominantly in five camps near the city of Tindouf, administered by the Popular Front for the Liberation of the Saguia el Harma and Rio de Oro (Polisario)” (United States Department of State (27 February 2014) Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2013, Algeria, Section 2d Freedom of Movement, Internally Displaced Persons, Protection of Refugees, and Stateless Persons /Protection of Refugees/Access to Basic Services). The Norwegian Refugee Council in December 2013 states: “According to Polisario, which manages the camps, 165,000 Sahrawi refugees are living in Algeria” (Norwegian Refugee Council (19 December 2013) Occupied Country, Displaced People, p.5). A publication released in November 2013 by the UNHCR notes that: “The four camps are largely self-managed by the POLISARIO, including security arrangements. The POLISARIO has its Headquarters in Rabouni, the administrative centre of the camps that are named from the main cities in the Western Sahara Territory (Laayoune, Awserd, Smara and Dakhla)” (UNHCR (November 2013) Bridge over troubled desert: A review of the UNHCR confidence building measures programme in Western Sahara and Tindouf). Availability of education and employment; A publication released in April 2014 by the United Nations Security Council notes the “…development needs in the camps, especially education and employment for the youth (United Nations Security Council (10 April 2014) Report of the Secretary- General on the situation concerning Western Sahara (April 2014)). A UNHCR report issued in January 2014 notes the: “…limited opportunities to work…” (UNHCR (30 January 2014) Restoring self- reliance among Sahrawi refugees in Algeria). This document also points out that the: “Youth are an estimated 60 per cent of the Sahrawi refugee population (estimates of the population range from 90,000 to 165,000) but live in limbo, with extremely limited chances to apply their education and skills” (ibid). A report produced in February 2014 by the United States Department of State commenting on events of the preceding year notes: “Sahrawi refugees lived predominantly in five camps near the city of Tindouf, administered by the Popular Front for the Liberation of the Saguia el Harma and Rio de Oro (Polisario). The remote location of the camps and lack of government presence resulted in lack of access to employment, basic services, education, police, and courts for Sahrawis” (United States Department of State (27 February 2014) Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2013, Algeria, Section 2d Freedom of Movement, Internally Displaced Persons, Protection of Refugees, and Stateless Persons /Protection of Refugees/Access to Basic Services). In a publication issued by the Norwegian Refugee Council in December 2013, it is stated that: “Given the scarcity of resources, Polisario can do little to offer young people meaningful jobs or higher education within the camps” (Norwegian Refugee Council (19 December 2013) Occupied Country, Displaced People, p.8). The Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly in May 2014 produced a report which states that “Primary education is compulsory for all Sahrawi children, who must, however, leave Western Sahara (for Algeria, Cuba, Libya or elsewhere) if they wish to continue their studies” (Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (13 May 2014) Western Sahara: a spirit of compromise in order to achieve a political solution, p.17). This report also notes the: “…high unemployment rates” (ibid, p.15). Camps called camp 1 or Rgliibet; No information on this issue could be found among sources available to the RDC. UN peacekeeping contingent in the region; An undated document from the United Nations states: “The United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) was established by Security Council resolution 690 (1991)…of 29 April 1991, in accordance with "the settlement proposals", as accepted on 30 August 1988 by Morocco and the Frente Popular para la Liberación de Saguia el-Hamra y de Río de Oro (Frente POLISARIO).
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