Friday, June 5, 2009

ECHO: Humanitarian Aid for Western Sahara

The funds will help to meet the refugees' basic needs for food, healthcare, clean water and proper sanitation as well as providing tents and basic household items in the Western Sahara region.Consistent with its strategy of focusing on regions of great humanitarian need and on forgotten crises, the European Commission has allocated €10 million for the Sahrawi population living in camps near Tindouf, western Algeria.

The funds are channelled through ECHO, the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid department.

The Sahrawi refugees have been living in four camps located in the desert region of Tindouf for over 3 decades and the EU has been the largest donor in this long-term humanitarian crisis. Since 1993, the Commission has provided more than €143 million in aid to the Sahrawi refugees - an expression of solidarity with the victims of this prolonged crisis.

Under this new decision, €5.5 million has been allocated to provide regular and diverse food assistance: basic food aid, provision of fresh food including food for the Ramadan, and nutritional support ensuring that the refugees have access to an appropriate vitamin and micronutrient intake. A further €4.5 million is dedicated to improving the living conditions of the refugees by ensuring adequate access to basic services such as health, water, waste management and essential items including tents and hygiene products

Activities will be implemented by ECHO operational partners: NGOs, United Nations agencies and the Red Cross/Red Crescent movement.

Source DG Humanitarian Aid (ECHO)

More information EU Commission press room

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