TNAG-0898-FCO40-1108-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 20

CONFIDENTIAL

FUGEES

REFUGEES FROM THE WESTERN SAHARA

Essential Facts

1. There are estimated to be about 50,000 refugees Living

in camps in the Tindouf region in Southern Algeria.

The camps

The

are well organised and food is supplied by the Algerians.

overall food, health and clothing situation has improved but

provision of adequate nutritious food continues to be high on the

List of prio rities. Tindouf is also, however, the base from

which the Polisario Front carry out guerilla operations against

Moroccan forces in the Western Sahara, and in Southern Moroccan

proper. There is, therefore, a danger that the Moroccans might

see relief for refugees in Tindouf as aid to guerillas. ΤΟ

avoid this danger UNHCR should ensure that its relief programmes

are aimed at all who have been displaced by the fighting in the

Western Sahara and not just those at present to be found in

Algeria.

2.

As a result of a 1976 UNHCR appeal for funds to assist

refugees in the Western Sahara, the then 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. Following further appeals for contributions

HMG responded in March 1977 and March 1978 by agreeing to provide

£20,000 each year to the British Red Cross for onward transmission

to the Algerian Red Crescent, and in August 1978 we contributed

a further £20,000 for the purchase of foodstuffs.

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