New York (United Nations), 09/10/2005 (SPS) US Congressman, Zach Wamp, gave a touching testimony, before the UN’s General Assembly’s 4^th Committee on decolonisation held last October the 5^th, 6^th and 7^th in New York, presenting his personal experience during his visit to the Saharawi refugee camps, estimating that Saharawi people deserve to be given back their right to self-determination, through a fair and transparent referendum under the UN’s supervision, here is the complete text of the Congressman intervention:

"Intervencion del congresista americano Zach WAMP

Read by his assitant, Mrs. Helen HardinLeida  

After more than 30 years of conflict over Western Sahara, and more than four decades of focus by this committee, there is not much new to say to you today about the Saharawi’s heroic struggle for self determination.  

In 2002, Ambassador Hasmy Agam, then chairman of the fourth committee, said, "I remember 12 to 13 years ago when Malaysia was in the Council. We are again a member, nearly 10 years later. But the issue of Western Sahara has not changed. It's the same thing!" 

Ladies and gentlemen, as we gather today – it’s still the same thing. One hundred fifty thousand people remain in extremely harsh conditions in refugee camps in the Sahara Desert. Despite the extremes of scorching summer heat and frigid winter temperatures, the Saharawi are still living in tents and crude mud brick rooms. Their water for drinking and bathing is still trucked in and held in metal containers. Electricity is still virtually nonexistent.  

They use holes in the ground for sanitation facilities and garden hoses for showers. Compared to modern standards, these primitive rest rooms are incomprehensible. 

The Saharawi people continue to rely almost totally on humanitarian assistance from the international community. It is with great difficulty and little success that fruits and vegetables are grown in the sand of the desert. 

The lack of variety in food aid is heartbreaking. Basic rations consist of flour, lentils, vegetable oil, sugar, salt, and nutrient-enriched biscuits. Please take moment to think about what it would be like to have only those choices just for one day. Now consider what it would be like to have only those choices every day for the last 30 years … 

More devastating than the lack of choices is the consequence of extremely high malnutrition rates, especially in young children. The lack of food and limited access to fresh fruits and vegetables contribute to very high levels of chronic malnutrition and micronutrient deficiency among children. 

In fact, a World Food Program report calls the nutrition situation in the camps precarious. A recent survey by the International Child Health Institute revealed “increased levels of stunting and micronutrient deficiencies among the refugees. Consequently, UNHCR initiated a therapeutic feeding intervention for children in hospitals and health centres.”  

The absence of meaningful work is another depressing aspect of the refugee camps. Human beings were created to attain personal fulfillment from work with a purpose.  But the arid land and the remote location of the camps greatly reduce the chances the refugees have to generate income for themselves and their families. Imagine, if you can, not being able to support yourself and depending totally on outsiders for your very existence.       

Despite the extreme hardships, the Saharawi people are a shining example of the triumph of the human spirit. The refugee camps are like no other in the world. These strong and vibrant people still have hope for their future in Western Sahara. They are warm and welcoming to total strangers. When I visited the camps last year, many women opened their homes to me even though I could not speak their language and they had no idea who I was or where I came from.  

The literacy rate in the camps is astonishing. Children’s school attendance rates are extremely high, especially in the early grades. Families value education as the best investment they can make to prepare their children for life after the conflict ends. The literacy rate for women in the camps is also very high, in stark contrast to other countries in the region.  

Another remarkable feature is the cleanliness of the camps. With so few material possessions, you might expect that order and neatness would not be high on the priority list. But the Saharawi people take great pride in keeping up their homes and neighborhoods. Even their methods are orderly. Women lead sanitation committees in each area and meet on a regular basis to make sure the neighborhoods stay clean and free of trash and debris.  

Women play a prominent role in Saharawi society and have parity with men under their constitution. There is strong respect for women and the role they played in developing the nation. During the war, the women were left on their own to establish the infrastructure of their communities. Today, they continue to run many of the administrative institutions of the refugee camps, a compelling example to many other countries in a region where women’s rights are nonexistent.  

These Saharawi refugees stay informed and they know we are meeting today to talk about their future. They’ve had their hopes dashed so many times and are frustrated and disillusioned by the lack of follow through by the international community.  

I sent an email message to a friend in the camps and asked him to pose this question to a few Saharawis: “If you could speak before the UN, what would you say?” Here are some of the responses: 

Noura, a student

“We have suffered too much… about thirty years in which half of them are under the daily witness of the UN itself. Isn't it time for the UN to end our ordeal? " 

Asma, a teacher

“Shame on the UN after 14 years of settling in a territory of a people who don't want anything but peace according to international law. " 

Abd Allahi:

“The UN has done nothing for us, as if it does not exist from the beginning. I want the UN to leave if they are not going to do anything.” 

Mohamed :

“14 years is enough.”  

Abd Allahi:

“I think war is better than the existence of the UN. At least during the war we achieve things for ourselves and face our enemy. The UN is here just to keep the cease fire and prevent us from getting our rights.” 

While the Saharawi men, women and children are bitter after the unfulfilled promise of a referendum more than a decade ago, they continue to dream of returning to their Motherland. There are only a few people in our world who have the means, the understanding of the issues, and the platform to help the Saharawi people. Their only hope is that you, ladies and gentlemen, will take action to end their exile and help them return to their beloved homeland.  

I ask you today – what have you done, what will you do to end this great inequity of these brothers and sisters in the desert? This is not a rhetorical question. You who have been given so much, what will you do? I will continue to ask myself the same question and respond to the best of my ability. What will you do?” (SPS) 

060/090/000 091714 Oct 05 SPS 

 

 

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