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I was born in Mijek in 1968. We lived in a peaceful way. When it rained we were in the desert with the camels, when it was dry we lived in Dakhla. All I remember of Dakhla now is the sea and eating fish. When the Moroccans invaded I saw a lot of suffering. We moved to the camps [in Algeria], the old and very young were in trucks and everyone else was walking carrying what they owned. I saw people killed, people lose limbs, and others walking naked. Later I studied in Algeria and then joined the military. I remember [during the war] we always attacked in the early morning. The wall meant we didn't have to look for the Moroccans. We had people who could clear the mines and then we could attack. We occupied many bases along the wall. I didn't feel happy when we agreed to the ceasefire, we were on the brink of getting our freedom. We started the war with very old arms but we fought them [Morocco] and got many of their arms. So we like that they now have a lot of weapons because we can get them from them.
We are always victims because with every UN effort to find a solution the Moroccans refuse [to co-operate] and there is no pressure on them. To live in the camps is very difficult because the conditions are harsh. We get some humanitarian help but fresh products cannot last long here. I work in food distribution and I like it a lot because people benefit from this. The NGO's (nongovernmental organisations) do good work here, the Spanish help a lot they are good friends of the Saharawi. They knew their government was wrong but they couldn't do anything about it. If we keep the deals with the UN we may get our freedom if not we will go back to war. If you lose something be force you need to get it back by force. We need quick action, we are fed up. For me war is the only way, peace brings nothing.
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