New massacre of Saharawi civilians near refugee camps in Algeria

The Movement Saharawi for Peace (MSP) has denounced in an official statement a new massacre of Saharawi civilians in the Algerian camps. 

According to sources quoted by the MSP, "several young Saharawis lost their lives when they were attacked by a drone of the Algerian army. 

The official statement of the MSP is reproduced below: 

According to reliable sources, several Saharawi youths lost their lives when they were attacked by a drone of the Algerian army. 

The events took place this morning in the area of Iguidi, near the Dakhla camp, 160 kilometres south-east of the Algerian city of Tindouf. 

According to the same sources, the number of victims has risen to fourteen, including the dead and wounded. 

It is not the first time that the Algerian army has used firearms in its actions against gold prospectors in this region, but it is the first time that it has used drones in these actions. 

Other Saharawi youths have been shot by Algerian army patrols in the last two years and a group of them lost their lives in pits dug after being set on fire by the Algerian military.  

The MSP strongly denounces these events and calls on the Algerian government to take urgent measures to prevent its troops from again riddling young refugees forced by need and lack of employment to search for gold in the vastness of the desert. 

It also calls for the intervention of UNHCR and human rights bodies to carry out an investigation into the events.