Monthly Archives: October 2015

Urgent appeal to assist flood relief efforts in Saharawi refugee camps

Western-Sahara-2-800x350Australia Western Sahara Association (AWSA) Media Release
27 October 2015
Appeal to assist flood relief efforts in Saharawi refugee camps

The Australia Western Sahara Association is appealing for funds to assist relief work in the Western Sahara refugee camps where week-long torrential rains have devastated homes, hospitals and schools and destroyed food stores.
‘Never before have the Saharawi refugee camps been hit by a natural disaster of this magnitude,’ said Kamal Fadel, representative of Western Sahara in Australia.

AWSA media release >>

Tax deductible donations can be made online at APHEDA >>
At APHEDA webpage select C. One Off Donations and then select ‘Western Sahara’ from drop down list)
or call APHEDA on 1800 888 674

Refugee camps: Torrential rains continue and losses are on the rise.

floodFriday 23 October 2015
Damage has affected 30 thousand houses at the very least, and the damage in infrastructure and essential services facilities (schools, hospitals …) ranged between 75 and 80%.
Tents , blankets , food and medicine are desperately needed. The Saharawi Red Crescent have issued a statement stating that the refugees are in urgent need of humanitarian aid, specifically tents, food and medicine.

Health Ministry warns of flood effects on health >>

Refugee camps: Torrential Rain causes widespread damage to buildings, homes and food stores

Floods leave considerable damage in the wilaya of Dajla
Tuesday 20 October 2015

Dajla (Saharawi refugee camps) -The wilaya of Dajla, in the Saharawi refugee camps, was hit by heavy rains since Monday, leaving considerable damage and “heavy floods have destroyed several public buildings and community centers, and have destroyed several homes of refugees, no victims are reported so far.”

Article >>

WSRW 20/10/2015 – UK Court refers Western Sahara imports case to EU Court

phosboucraa3_384
Western Sahara Resource Watch, 20 October 2015

In refering the case on the questionable legality of UK imports from Western Saharan products to the European Court of Justice, the UK Judge stated that “there is an arguable case of a manifest error by the [European] Commission in understanding and applying international law relevant to these agreements.”

Western Sahara Resource Watch article >>

African Union publishes Legal Opinion on Western Sahara plunder

Western Sahara Resource Watch, 19 October 2015 16:10

The African Union has found the ongoing exploration and exploitation of the territory’s resources in violation of international law. A legal opinion that has been circulating the last weeks has been published on the AU website on 14 October 2015. The Opinion contains strong language and unambiguous conclusions with regard to the legality of Morocco’s exploration and exploitation of Western Sahara’s natural resources.

WSRW report >>

Morocco “denounces and rejects” UN recommendations

Western Sahara Resource Watch, 16 October 2015

Morocco reacts furiously to a UN Treaty Body recommending the country to respect the Saharawi people’s rights to self-determination and natural resources.

Earlier this week, the UN Committee for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights had published its conclusions after having reviewed Morocco’s compliance with those rights.

WSRW report >>

Irish company San Leon Energy has discovered gas in the disputed territory of the Western Sahara

October 2015

Irish company San Leon Energy has discovered gas in the disputed territory of the Western Sahara, violating international legal principles. The Western Sahara is the subject of a decades-long dispute between Morocco and the Polisario Front. RFI’s Daniel Finnan has more…

Listen to Daniel Finnan’s report >>

Students Protests for Western Sahara Independence Draw Crackdowns

Sahrawi with flag. Credit: Creative Commons

Sahrawi with flag. Credit: Creative Commons

Al Fanar News and Opinion about Arabic Higher Education
Brennan Weiss / 06 Oct 2015

AGADIR, Morocco–In a small, dilapidated apartment in Agadir, in southern Morocco, student activists are meeting in secret. In defiance of the country’s authorities, they are planning protests for the independence of a disputed territory claimed by Morocco that is commonly called the Western Sahara.(cont.)

Al Fanar News and Opinion article>>

HRW issues statement on Morocco’s demand for HRW to cease activities in their country

Human Rights Watch, October 2, 2015
Statement Regarding Human Rights Watch Activities in Morocco
(Tunis) – Human Rights Watch issued the following statement on October 2, 2015, in response to a demand from the Moroccan government to suspend Human Rights Watch activities in the country:

“Human Rights Watch is disappointed with the demand from the Morocco government’s spokesman in a letter dated September 23, 2015, that Human Rights Watch suspend its activities in the country, and with the letter’s unspecified accusations of bias. (cont.)

HRW Statement >>