Moroccans in Tindouf are kidnapped persons, not refugees, Moroccan Red Crescent

Vice-chairman of the Moroccan Red Crescent, Mehdi Bennouna, said on Monday "Moroccans sequestered in Tindouf camps (southwestern Algeria) are persons that were kidnapped and not mere refugees."

A group of persons present in the Tindouf camps are considered by the High Commissioner for Refugees as refugees, but those are actually persons that were kidnapped and are forcibly held there, Bennouna told the Moroccan TV channel "TVM" as he was taking part in a training of trainers on refugees protection.

"We have repeatedly asked the HCR to conduct a census of Moroccans sequestered in the Tindouf camps" because this organization sends assistance on the basis of figures supplied by Algerian authorities, he went on.

Participants in the first training of the kind held in Morocco include 9 women and 14 men representing some 16 European and African bodies. They are learning how to apprehend refugees problems and bring the appropriate solutions. It is sponsored by several international organizations, including Care International, the International Catholic Commission of Migrations, the International Red Cross Committee, the Norwegian council of refugees and the ecumenical council of churches.