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Algeria "encourages humanitarian agencies and donors to contribute to the implementation of the Support Plan for 173,600 Sahrawi refugees in need, in accordance with the document developed in 2023 by UN agencies, including UNHCR, and a number of organizations active on the ground," said Bladehane, during his address at the 75th session of the Executive Council of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), organized in Geneva from October 14 to 18.

Algeria, which reiterates its support to international organizations and donors, "continues to accomplish its humanitarian duty towards these refugees," he said. "In accordance with its international commitments, my country continues to provide necessary assistance to refugees who are on the national territory. This is the case for Sahrawi refugees, forced to flee their land in 1975, who live in camps near Tindouf," he noted. "In addition to the aid provided by humanitarian agencies, led by UNHCR, Algeria grants these displaced people, among other things, health and education services," added Algeria’s representative.

"This prolonged situation must not, in any way, be relegated to the second place. It is our duty to ensure these refugees the necessary protection by rejecting any kind of pressure aimed at politicizing work that is humanitarian in essence," he advocated.

"My delegation believes that our meeting is not the right place to discuss the political aspect of Western Sahara which falls under the 4th UN Commission on Decolonization. It is contradictory that the same country which is the source of the suffering of Sahrawi refugees calls on Algeria to respect its international commitments knowing that it has no legitimacy (to) speak about these populations, since it neither hosts the refugees nor contributes as a donor,” he added.

Bladehane, speaking on behalf of Algeria, strongly condemned the massacres perpetrated by the Zionist entity against the Palestinians and the Lebanese. He emphasized that while the situation falls outside UNHCR's mandate, Algeria is deeply concerned about the disastrous humanitarian consequences resulting from the aggression of the occupation forces against Gaza and the West Bank. We condemn in unequivocal terms the massacres perpetrated against civilians and humanitarian workers, and call on the international community to use all its power to hold the colonizer accountable," he underlined.

"This same aggressor unfortunately continues, in total disregard of the fundamental principles of international law and international humanitarian law, its exactions and violations, by invading the territory of a sovereign country, namely Lebanon," he said.

"While condemning these excesses, we encourage UNHCR to continue playing its role of humanitarian assistance to the thousands of people displaced by the aggressor's attacks," added Bladehane.

He then broadened the scope of his remarks, pointing out that the root causes of forced displacement remain largely unchanged. These include the continued existence of colonialism in various parts of the world, persecution, armed conflicts, and the growing impact of climate change.

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