EU humanitarian aid to Sahrawi refugees in Algeria

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The Commission has approved a humanitarian aid Decision for EUR 8 million to assist 158 000 Sahrawi refugees in the camps of South West Algeria. Although it has been a forgotten crisis for over thirty years, the situation of the Sahrawi refugees is still worrying. The EUR 8 million is allocated through the Humanitarian Aid Office, ECHO, to provide assistance for this population which is extremely dependent on international aid. The Decision is intended to improve food security in basic foodstuffs, diversify the food basket for families and provide for minimum hygiene requirements and access to water.

More than 158 000 Sahrawi refugees living in four camps around Tindouf in the South West of Algeria are dependent on assistance for food and health care. The Commission has therefore decided to finance aid projects covering the following needs:

Food:

A regular supply of basic food supplies (cereals, legumes, oil, sugar and salt) should cover the refugees' food needs in terms of both quantity and variety.

The buffer stock set up by ECHO in 2002 is to be replenished so that the refugee population can be provided with 2 100 Kcal per person per day (WHO recommended minimum).

It is planned to finance bird food and the renovation of a third chicken battery farm to increase egg production. The development of this local activity will help vary the refugees' diet and provide them with an economic activity to alleviate their enforced idleness.

Water and health:

The Smara camp, with more than 40 000 refugees, is not yet connected to a water supply network. The stock of tanker trucks used to supply water is currently inadequate to meet these refugees' needs properly. Pipes linking the camp to the network should give them access to running water.

There is also a major lack of toiletries and cleaning products for refugees' accommodation. Health and hygiene conditions will be improved for more than 30 000 families by providing them with soap and hygiene kits.

From 1993 to 2003 ECHO devoted more than EUR 100 million of its budget to Sahrawi refugees living in the Tindouf region. The new Decision maintains the Commission's commitment to this extremely vulnerable population which is suffering the effects of donor fatigue.


For further information:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/echo/information/media/sarahouis

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