CONFIDENTIAL
ANNEX IV
REFUGEES IN THE WESTERN SAHARA
1. There are estimated to be about 50,000 refugees living in camps in the Tindouf region in Southern Algeria. The camps are well organised and food is supplied by the Algerians. The overall food, health and clothing situation has improved but provision of adequate nutritious food continues to be high on the list of priorities. Tindouf is also the base from which the Polisario carry out guerrilla operations in Morocco and Mauritania with Algerian support.
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As a result of a UNHCR appeal in 1976 to the international community for funds to assist refugees in the Western Sahara, the ODM agreed to donate £20,000 to the British Red Cross for "refugee problems arising from the decolonisation of the Western Sahara": the money was passed to the International Red Cross who divided it between the Algerian and Moroccan Red Crescents. We responded in this way because the UNHCR appeal was designed to benefit the refugees in Algeria alone.
3. Towards the end of 1976, the then High Commissioner for Refugees, Prince Sadruddin, was appointed Co-ordinator of international assistance for refugees in Algeria. He again appealed for financial contributions for his continuing programme and HMG responded in March 1977 by agreeing to provide a further £20,000 to the British Red Cross for onward transmission to the Algerian Red Cresent.
4 HMG again responded in March 1978 with a further contribution of £20,000.
5. Earlier this year the British Red Cross Society reported that the Algerian Red Crescent was continuing its relief programme for the 50,000 refugees in its care but that, although they were managing adequately for blankets, tents and medical supplies, there was still a great need for food supplies. HMG therefore responded in August of this year with a further contribution of £20,000 for the purchase of foodstuffs. We have been informed that £20,000 supplies food for 14 months. This contribution (as the last one) will be used for the purchase of nutritional baby food for children up to 5 years of age. The total UK contribution so far has been £80,000.
ANNEX V
CONFIDENTIAL