But I have to admit that I'm unfamiliar with the situation in the Western Sahara. How come nobody else in the Moslem world is complaining about the plight of these refugees? And how come they're still living in camps after 27 years?
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/wi.html
http://www.oneworld.org/guides/sahara/history.html
http://www.arso.org/index.htm
From the above website: (http://www.arso.org/01-e02-37.htm)
"HUMANITARIAN AID 13.09.02 Donation The actress Angelina Jolie, UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, donated $100,000 for urgently needed food aid for the Western Sahara refugees. She is the first major private donor to respond to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the World Food Programme (WFP) joint appeal in late August for contributions to help feed and assist the Saharawi refugees."(WSO- UNHCR news)"
There are only about 250,000 people in that area (like, duh, it's a desert); people mostly engage in pastoral activities for their food. The area is also quite rich in phosphates. Interestingly enough, Cape Bojador, about one-third of the way down the coast, was long a psychological barrier to early Portuguese navigators until they overcame their fears and commenced their great explorations of the African coast in the latter part of the 15th century.