Moroccan ngo denounces embezzlement of humanitarian assistance by polisario
Morocco, Politics, 8/13/2001

A Moroccan ngo, the committee for Sahrawi Families Reunion (COREFASA), denounced here last week the embezzlement by the polisario leaders of the humanitarian assistance destined to the populations of the Tindouf camps.

In an address before the 53rd session of the human rights sub-commission, the COREFASA delegate, Ms Samira Yassni, drew the attention of the UN body to the unbearable situation of the Moroccan populations sequestered in these camps in south-western Algeria.

She told the session how the polisario-- an-Algerian backed gang of mercenaries claiming the independence of the Moroccan Sahara-requests from humanitarian organizations and ngos all kinds of assistance that it uses for personal ends. She said the polisario swells the size of the camps populations to get greater quantities, and consequently increase the "returns" it gains from the assistance trafficking.

She explained that the goods received as assistance are sold through networks, that she likened to a Mafia, and can be easily found, still bearing the label of the donating organizations, in the weekly markets of cities and villages of countries neighboring southern Algeria.

The polisario leaders managed, thanks to this trafficking, to accumulate wealth, build luxury villas in Southern Spain and set up huge projects, while the sequestered populations are getting reduced food intake, she said.

The COREFASA delegate also informed the session on the daily ordeal of the populations forcibly detained in the Tindouf camps, the repression they are subject to (torture, imprisonment, physical liquidation.) just because they believe in the unity of their homeland, Morocco, and their moral sufferings because they are living away from home.

She called the international community to take moves so that the sequestered children, women and men be released, and recover their freedom and dignity.

The COREFASA delegate also attended a meeting held here last week in preparation to the Durban world conference on racism.

COREFASA is a Moroccan human rights activist ngo, member of the International Women Alliance. It is active in the protection of the rights of women and children.

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