Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Algiers (Fides Service) - The United Nations High Commission for Refugees UNHCR is preparing to send immediate emergency aid to the region of Tindouf, western Algeria where more than 50,000 refugees from the Sahara region are homeless after unusually heavy rains last weekend destroyed or damaged dirt-brick shelters in refugee camps in the area.
UNHCR is organising an air lift to transport tents, water cans, mattresses and plastic sheeting from its regional deposit in Jordan. The Agency is sending an emergency team, including experts in camp planning and sanitation, to Tindouf to work with UNHCR operators already there. UNHCR is working closely with World Food Programme planning distribution of emergency food supplies to affected families.
Torrential rain which started on 9 February destroyed completely 50% of mud-brick huts in camps at Awserd, Smara and Laayoune and left another 25% seriously damaged. In the floods a woman was killed and many people were injured. Today UNHCR operators in Tindouf said the heavy rains had affected most of the infrastructures.
Schools structures all made of mud bricks in Awserd and Smara camps were destroyed. However UNHCR staff who reached Laayoune camp, isolated until yesterday, say it was less damaged than the others. There have been no reports of damage from two other settlements of refugees in the region.
The people in the five camps in Tindouf fled Western Sahara in 1975 during a war over the right to govern the Territory after the withdrawal of Spain. At present UNHCR assists 90,000 of the most vulnerable refugees in these five camps. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 15/2/2006 righe 31 parole 382)
