Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Algiers (Agenzia Fides) - “I have desired to visit these camps since the day I was appointed Bishop” Bishop Claude Rault of the diocese of Laghouat, in the Sahara region of Algeria writes in a letter to Fides after his visit to Sarahawi refugee camps in Tindouf, in south west Algeria.
Bishop Rault was accompanied by Sr Speciosa who is in charge of the diocesan Caritas office. “ More than 170,000 people live in these camps spread along a distance of several kilometres ” the Bishop told Fides.
The Saharawi are from West Sahara, a former Spanish possession, invaded by Morocco in 1976 which has since claimed independence. “For 32 years, since they were forced to abandon their lands, these refugees have lived in camps, temporarily hosted by Algeria, waiting for justice to be done. A people in exile without a land, waiting for liberation, and often ignored by the international scene” said Bishop Rault.
“ These people deserve all the fraternal solidarity our little local Church can offer, however modest our means ” said the Bishop of Laghouat who described the conditions in the camps: “In this region NGOs run a variety of programmes. Caritas Algiers and the Red Crescent CCFD in Algeria, assist these people who rely on a “drip” of international aid in dramatic conditions of food shortage and disease caused by hunger and poverty. The most affected are the children and the infant morality rate is frightening”.
During his visit to Rault the Bishop met persons in charge of a programme supported by the French Girl Guides association. “Twice a year 5 or 6 women, most of them married with children or professionals in some field, visit the camps to teach young mothers there how to care for their children. Sr Speciosa and I joined them as we do in other regions of the Sahara. We were deeply moved by the warm welcome received by the families and the local authorities. In a week we managed to make contact to establish a couple of programmes to run together with the local authorities ” the Bishop of Laghouat concluded. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 14/12/2007 righe 27 parole 370)
