The humanitarian situation of Sahrawi refugees in the camps at Tinduf (ca. 1900 km. southwest of Algiers) dependent on international aid and "totally ignored by international media", said Yahia Bouhemiane, president of the Sahrawi Red Crescent during a press conference organized by the Algerian counterpart. Bouhemiane, fearing a reduction of aid because of the financial crisis, already believed to be insufficient, ha insisted on the "unique and exceptional" nature of the Sahrawi refugees. Since the mid 70's, fleeing from the fighting between the Polisario Front and the Moroccan army, the Sahrawis have gathered in the fields near Tinduf, in the middle of the Algerian desert, in an area that is difficult to reach. Despite the end of the fighting, no agreement was ever reached between the Polisario and Rabat over the sovereignty of Western Sahara, at the heart of recurring talks under UN auspices. The Polisario Front says that some 165,000 people are living in the camps at Tindouf while UN estimates are lower; The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres, visited he camps in September.[AB]
