which still continued despite recent meetings in Geneva on the initiative of the Secretary-General. Two situations were particularly tragic. 8. In May 1989 the Polisario Front had announced the release of 200 Moroccan prisoners of war, who, however, had been unable to return to their families, most of whom had not been officially informed of their release. On 13 February, Mr. Sommaruga, the President of the ICRC, had informed the press that since 1978, the ICRC had not been allowed to visit prisoners in Morocco although it had visited more than 1,000 prisoners in Polisario hands. Mr. Sommaruga had gone on to say that some 200 of those prisoners had been designated for release, but that after six months of negotiations, Morocco was refusing to take back those 200 prisoners. 9. He also wished to recall the case of the many Saharans who had disappeared since 1975: since the beginning of the conflict, several hundred civilians had been kidnapped, imprisoned and often tortured. Reports reaching his organization left no doubt as to the harsh conditions meted out to the prisoners and their total lack of legal protection. 10. His organization requested the Sub-Commission to invite the Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances to give priority attention to those matters, and so find out where the Saharans were being held and what were their conditions of detention. He requested the Sub-Commission to assist the international organizations directly concerned to find a solution that would allow the immediate repatriation of the 200 Moroccan prisoners of war. 11. Another member of Centre Europe -Tiers Monde, Mr. Bereket Habte Selassie, would now address the Sub-Commission on the question of Eritrea. 12. Mr. YIMER, speaking on a point of order, pointed out that only accredited representatives of non-governmental organizations were allowed to address the 
**Analysis**
The text discusses the situation of prisoners of war, disappearances, and humanitarian concerns in the context of the Western Sahara conflict. It highlights the difficulties faced by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in accessing prisoners in Morocco and the need for international organizations to find a solution for the repatriation of Moroccan prisoners of war. The text also mentions the case of disappeared Saharans and the harsh conditions they face.

**Category**
Humanitarian aid and relief