UNHCR Confidence Building Measures Western Sahara
Pursuant to UN Resolution 1282 of 1999 and those subsequent, the UNHCR, the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for the Western Sahara have been promoting with the Moroccan and the Algerian authorities and with the POLISARIO Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) that facilitate person-to-person contacts between the Saharawi refugees in the Tindouf refugee camps in southern Algeria and their family members in the communities of origin in Western Sahara.
The CBMs are aimed at meeting the humanitarian needs of those families who have been separated by the conflict for a long period of time by allowing them to communicate and stay in contact with each other. They fall strictly within UNHCR’s mandate, and are, therefore, not linked in any manner whatsoever to any political options being considered regarding the Western Sahara. The measures include family visits between the refugee camps in Tindouf and the main cities in the Territory of Western Sahara, as well as offering a no-cost telephone service in the refugee camps in Tindouf. The project also includes seminars at a neutral venue intended to bring together prominent members of the Saharawi communities from the refugee camps and the cities in the Territory to discuss non-political topics.
The UNHCR Confidence Building Measures were launched on 5th March 2004.
Exchange of family visits
The objective is to facilitate exchange of family visits between the Saharawi refugees from the Tindouf area in southern Algeria and their communities of origin in the Territory of Western Sahara. CBM flights occur weekly, carrying about thirty individuals. The duration of the family visit is 5 days and 5 nights.
In the Territory, the visits take place in the main cities (Laayoune, Boujdour, Dakhla and Smara). These visits in Tindouf area take place in the refugee camps of Laayoune, Dakhla, Smara, Awsard and 27 February school.
The family visits have proved of great value to the beneficiaries and are extremely popular, as reflected in the 18, 971 individuals/ 5, 301 families registered. All persons from the refugee camps in Tindouf Algeria and from the cities in the Territory who were registered in 2004 can participate in this activity, proving their direct family link (mother, father, daughter, son, husband, wife, sister, brother) with a person from the other side. The project gives special attention and priority to humanitarian cases and vulnerable groups.
Telephone centres
The telephone service is available and running in four of the five refugee camps in Tindouf: Laayoune, Smara, Awsard and 27 February school, benefiting all refugees who otherwise do not have any means of communication with their families in the Territory. This is a significant activity in reducing the psychological isolation of the refugee camps. The telephone service gives an opportunity to those not registered for the family visits to have other means to maintain contact with their families on the other side. Steps have been taken to proceed with the installation of a telephone centre in the remote camp of Dakhla.
Seminars
With the key baseline, namely, family visits, of UNHCR CBM activities now operational, the first seminar is increasingly the priority.UNHCR will select 60 notables and community activists from the Tindouf refugee camps and the Territory to participate in this activity to discuss non-political topics at a neutral venue. The seminars, which will last two days plus travel time, would offer an opportunity for dialogue and interaction to prominent members of the Saharawi communities living on both sides. Participation in each seminar will be limited to 30 persons (15 from each side) selected by mutual agreement of Moroccan and POLISARIO authorities with the help of the SRSG and UNHCR. The choice of the themes for the seminars will be made by UNHCR in collaboration with the parties concerned based on a list of common interest non-political topics.
Coordination
The CBMs are implemented with the support of the SRSG in close coordination with government authorities and the POLISARIO. The Mission provides support to the exchange of family visits, whereby UN flights between the refugee camps in Tindouf and cities in the Territory carry passengers who have not been able to see their families for over thirty-two years. UNHCR staff are assisted in their work by UN CIVPOL. A medical doctor/nurse is designated by MINURSO to accompany beneficiaries aboard the flights.
MINURSO also provides technical, logistical and administrative assistance to the CBM programme. The protection responsibility and global supervision of the implementation of the programme remains with UNHCR.
Impact
The main impact of the operation is humanitarian in nature, as it will enable the renewal of family and personal ties between the refugees and their family members, who have been separated for over thirty-two years. It is hoped that the CBMs will contribute to establishing confidence among the parties concerned by the conflict in the Western Sahara.
Operational background
The CBM activities are implemented in a highly political environment located between two parties that currently have no channel for dialogue and whose conflict has resulted in one of the more protracted refugee caseloads in the world. Therefore, the CBM activities work within the sphere of conflict resolution, gradually reducing suspicion between the parties. Given the cross border nature of the operation, the staff roving element remains crucial for the success of the programme.
All CBM activities are regularly reported to the Security Council and continue to be strongly supported through repeated resolutions. The CBM project continues to generate considerable interest amongst the beneficiaries and the political parties involved, as well as concerned members of the international community.