AFRICA/ALGERIA - In Algeria there is still an emergency for Sahrawi refugee suffering consequences of serious flood

Friday, 24 February 2006

Algiers (Fides Service) - Two Italian and Portuguese cargo aircraft transported some 20 tons of tents to the western Algerian region of Tindouf as part of operations to supply emergency homes in three camps for more than 50,000 Sahrawi refugees whose mud huts dissolved in recent torrential rains in the area. The two flights transported 440 light family tents from the UN High Commission for Refugees UNHCR deposit in Jordan to Tindouf and Oran. The tents were then taken by truck to the flood stricken areas and distributed by UNHCR personnel. Other government supplied tents had been distributed previously.
UNHCR plans to send 200 tons of emergency aid from various deposits for which air transport is essential. This means the Agency needs more funds. More than 25 flights will be necessary to transport over two thousands tents, dozens of blankets, mattresses, plastic sheeting and water cans .
The Humanitarian Aid Department of the European Commission ECHO is giving 500,000 Euro to help provide the stricken people with tents, blankets and other aid. For many years ECHO was one of the principal agencies to assist Sahrawi refugees. The recent floods destroyed more than half of the shelters in Awserd, Smara and Laayoune camps near Tindouf and damaged 25 per cent.
Camp infrastructures were also seriously damaged. The medical centres are out of use and the camp hospitals and medicine depots are also seriously damaged. Three camps schools were destroyed.
Sahrawi refugees started arriving in Algeria in 1976, following Spain’s withdrawal from West Sahara and successive wars for control of the territory. Most of these people have lived in the desert area of west Algeria for more than 30 years totally dependent on humanitarian aid. At the moment UNHCR assists 90,000 of the most vulnerable refugees.(L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 24/2/2006 righe 33 parole 392)


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