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MINURSO Mandate
The United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) was established by Security Council resolution 690 (1991) of 29 April 1991, following a ceasefire, and in accordance with the Settlement Plan to assist the Secretary General in the fulfilment of the United Nations mandate on the holding of a Referendum for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.
MINURSO Structure
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) serves as the Head of the Mission. In August 2003, the Secretary General appointed Mr. Alvaro de Soto (Peru) as his new Special Representative for Western Sahara. Mr. de Soto succeeded Mr. William Lacy Swing who, has been appointed as the Head of the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC). The Chief of Staff holds the overall management responsibility for the staff working in the immediate office of the SRSG and provides advice to the SRSG on all political and policy matters. He is the Focal point for all sensitive personnel, management issues, the communication & coordination with all other MINURSO components and with UN Head Quarters. He is responsible for Mission-wide coordination of policy and implementation among the MINURSO components and liaises with UN specialized agencies. The Force Commander heads the military component, which carries out the ceasefire monitoring function and reports directly to the SRSG. The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) is responsible for all administrative functions and provides the requisite administrative support for carrying out the substantive work of the mission and reports directly to the SRSG. The Head of the Tindouf Liaison Office coordinates elements from all MINURSO components, liaises with POLISARO and refugees; and provides assistance to UN agencies and NGOs.
MINURSO Partners
World Food Programme (WFP) provides a basic diet for 155,000 refugees (66.6 metric tons) costing US$ 14 million per year. Donor dependency vs. donor fatigue as new emergencies compete for limited resources. Malnutrition and stunting prevalent in children. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has repatriated 1249 POWs since 1984; 413 remain (world's longest detained). UNHCR manages the Confidence Building Measures, which include telephone and mail service between Saharan refugees in Tindouf area, (Algeria) with their community of origin in Western Sahara and the family exchange visit program. UNMAS employs UN Military Observers to discover and mark mines and UXO. It also coordinates safety and awareness training and operates an information management system for mine action.
2004
People
A mixture of indigenous Berbers and Arabic tribes, the Saharan peoples direct ancestors can be traced back to the XVth century when tribes from the Yemen crossed North Africa establishing themselves in the region later to be known as the Western Sahara. The difficult environmental conditions, cold dry winters, scorching summers, low irregular rainfall and rough terrain encouraged the different tribes to coexist and live together. Later, the acceptance of Islam by the Berbers and the increasing strength of the Arabic culture gave the tribes people a predominantly Arabic bias. The Saharan people and culture evolved as a result of this mixture of tribes. The Saharan people were essentially nomadic, pasturing cattle in the sandy low-lying plains and moving in accordance with the seasons, their routes dictated by wells and watering holes. In the traditional Saharan culture, each tribe and sub-tribe (fraction) regulated its affairs through an assembly (djemma) composed of the most respected family heads, under a selected sheikh. Disputes were handled in a friendly way or by compensation according to Islamic laws. More serious disputes were taken at the tribal level to an assembly of sheikhs known as the ait arbein, or council of forty.
The third, inland zone consists of flat low lying plains of hard rock with some ergs and sand dunes. The ground is too porous for water to retain the autumn rain, and too flat to allow it to flow, so it accumulates underground in numerous wells. The inland climate is typically continental - extremely hot summers (with temperatures reaching over 60 degrees C in the shade) and cold dry winters.
Economy
Western Sahara, a territory poor in natural resources and having little rainfall, depends on pastoral nomadism, fishing, and phosphate mining as the principal sources of income for the population. Most of the food for the urban population must be imported. All trade and other economic activities are controlled by the Moroccan Government. The Moroccan economy has substantial assets to draw upon: the worlds largest phosphate reserves, diverse agricultural and fishing resources, a sizable tourist industry, a growing manufacturing sector and remittances from Moroccans working abroad. However, incomes and standards of living in Western Sahara are substantially below the Moroccan level.
MINURSO Headquarters
P.O. BOX 80,000 Laayoune, Western Sahara
Telephone: +1 (212) 963-5111 Fax: +1 (212) 963-3024