At the UN Human Rights Council, several NGOs accused the Algerian government of «diverting aid» intended for the Sahrawi population in the Tindouf camps, according to a Sahrawi media outlet. The Algerian delegation to the HRC firmly rejected these accusations, asserting that «the distribution of international assistance, which follows strict standards, is supervised by the UN High Commissioner in coordination with the Sahrawi Red Crescent. This distribution model has been praised by all United Nations agencies», an Algerian diplomat responded yesterday to the NGOs' interventions. However, this version should be taken with caution. A report from the European Union's anti-fraud office, written in 2007 and made public in 2015, presents a different perspective. The document accuses Algeria of a «well-organized diversion over the years» of international humanitarian aid intended for the Sahrawis in the Tindouf camps. Following these revelations, the EU significantly reduced the volume of its assistance to the Sahrawis residing on Algerian territory. Furthermore, a 2023 report from the UN World Food Programme (WFP) highlighted challenges in working with the Algerian Red Crescent, particularly regarding the transport of goods from the port of Oran to the Tindouf camps.
