Morocco/Western Sahara: ICRC visits Moroccan prisoners held by Polisario front

An ICRC team including a medical doctor visited 1,080 Moroccan prisoners held by the Polisario Front near Tindouf, Algeria, between 2 and 8 December. The delegates also saw the 84 prisoners released in April 1997 who are still awaiting repatriation to Morocco. All prisoners are visited by the ICRC once a year. Delegates visited 649 other prisoners last May.

Each prisoner was given an opportunity to send a Red Cross message and photographs to his family. The ICRC team brought with it a supply of insulin and plans to provide other medical supplies and to distribute hygiene items to the prisoners in the near future.

The ICRC is extremely concerned about the situation of these men, most of whom were captured between 1978 and 1982 and have therefore been held now for over 15 years. The organization is stepping up representations to the parties concerned in order to bring about a humanitarian solution as soon as possible. It remains available to supervise the repatriation of all prisoners held in connection with the Western Sahara conflict.