Morocco says Algeria should enable UNHCR to take a census of people detained in Tindouf camps

Rabat - Moroccos Foreign Minister, Taieb Fassi Fihri, insisted, Friday in Rabat, that Algeria should, in accordance with its legal and political obligations, enable the UNHCR to exercise its mandate and take a census of the population of the Tindouf camps, south of Algeria

Rabat - Moroccos Foreign Minister, Taieb Fassi Fihri, insisted, Friday in Rabat, that Algeria should, in accordance with its legal and political obligations, enable the UNHCR to exercise its mandate and take a census of the population of the Tindouf camps, south of Algeria    "We examined the situation of our brothers detained in the Tindouf camps on Algerias territory. I, once again, stressed the importance Morocco primarily attaches to taking a census of the population of the Tindouf camps by the UNHCR," Fassi Fihri said at a joint press conference with the high commissioner for refugees, Antonio Guterres, following a meeting.   The minister underlined that the census, which is a fundamental measure of protection, will make it possible "to identify those who are truly from the southern provinces of Morocco."   This operation, he went on, will also enable the UNHCR to fulfil its institutional role and ask every individual of the population of the camps "to see whether they want to stay there, join Morocco as part of freely decided repatriation or get based in any other place abroad."   Fassi Fihri added that he examined with the UN official “means to reinforce the visit exchange operation by carrying them out by land.”   In this regard, he noted that the UNHCR made proposals, which Morocco welcomed, expressing “the kingdom’s will to examine the technical aspects of these proposals as well as any measure likely to facilitate family reunions between brothers living in the camps for more than 30 years now and their brothers in the South of Morocco.”   The minister said the Kingdom needs the UNHCR’s support to overcome the status quo in the camps.   “We need the UNHCR, not only to carry out the humanitarian mandate of the agency, but also to help us find a lasting solution" to the situation in the Tindouf camps.   He said the real situation is unknown to all, denouncing the human rights abuses perpetrated in the camps and “the impossibility for people detained there to leave and join their homeland Morocco in great numbers.”   The Moroccan official pinned the political and legal responsibility of this persisting situation on the countrys eastern neighbour, Algeria, describing the situation as "unacceptable" from the humanitarian viewpoint.   The minister said he examined with the UN official Morocco-UNHCR relations, adding that he voiced satisfaction with these relations which have, over the past years, witnessed a qualitative leap through the 2007 cooperation agreement and the opening of a UNHCR office in Rabat.   For his part, Guterres underlined that “the habitual practice of census conducted within the framework of the humanitarian operations has nothing to do with the political considerations.” It is rather “a tool for the humanitarian aid.”   He noted that “Algeria has requested augmenting the aid granted to the camps, but the UNHCR replied that this increase hinges upon counting the camps’ populations.”    He deplored that “Algeria did not accept taking this census,” insisting that the UN agency has not changed its estimation of the number of people living in the territory (90,000).    Guterres announced that his proposal of opening a land route for family visit exchange (between Tindouf and Morocco’s southern provinces) was accepted by all the parties as the best solution, saying that over 8,000 people have benefited from the exchange programme, and another 42,000 are registered to take part.   The UN official voiced satisfaction at the “qualitative leap” in the UNHCR-Morocco relations, voicing hope that the north African country “would, as part of this cooperation, put in place a legal framework for asylum,” and to create an institution for issuing the status of refugee on its territory.”   He also commended the “maturity” of Morocco’s civil society as part of this cooperation.   The UN official, who is on a visit to Morocco as part of a tour of the region, had met, Thursday and Friday, a number of top Moroccan officials. He attended, Saturday in the southern city of Smara, the UNHCR-led family visit exchange to check closely on its running, saying the operation “is extremely important at the humanitarian level.” 

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