- The head of the United Nations refugee agency today kicked off a five-day tour to North Africa to assess the conditions for people still sheltering in makeshift camps in Algeria after fleeing conflict in Western Sahara in the mid-1970s.
UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has been providing assistance to the Saharawi people since they fled to western Algeria in 1975-76, after fighting broke out between Morocco and the Frente Polisario – a Saharawi movement – at the end of Spain’s colonial administration of Western Sahara.
Morocco has since presented a plan for autonomy, while the Frente Polisario’s position is that the territory’s final status should be decided in a referendum on self-determination that includes independence as an option.
António Guterres’ mission to the camps – which takes place during the month of Ramadan – is the first visit from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees since 1976, and is meant as a sign of solidarity with the populations in the area, UNHCR spokesperson, Andrej Mahecic, told reporters in Geneva.
Mr Guterres is slated to visit Western Sahara and Morocco, as well as the refugee camps in western Algeria to observe the humanitarian work carried out by UNHCR.
Among the programmes Mr Guterres will review is a scheme aimed at alleviating the effects of prolonged separation between the Saharawi refugees in the camps and their families in Western Sahara by helping arrange family visits and providing a free telephone service in the camps.
During meetings with top government officials in Algeria and Morocco, Mr Guterres plans to discuss the issue of refugee protection in North Africa and efforts to build national asylum systems.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
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