Brussels, 25/10/2010 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission announced on Friday 22 October that it had allocated €10 million to provide humanitarian and food aid to “vulnerable Sahrawi refugees” who have been living “in isolated camps in the Algerian desert for more than three decades with little or no livestock and no substantial income”. “One of my priorities as a Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response is to draw attention to the victims of humanitarian crises that no longer make the headlines. The Sahrawi refugees are suffering in what is one of the oldest and largely forgotten crises. The Commission is committed to assisting these vulnerable people until a political solution can be found to end their plight,” said Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva.
The European aid will be used to provide a “regular and varied” food supply for people a high percentage of whom are “suffering from chronic malnutrition and anaemia”, making this “a serious public health problem”, according to a Commission press release. The aid will also “contribute to improving their humanitarian situation by ensuring adequate access to basic services and the provision of essential relief such as health care, clean water and proper sanitation, tents and logistical assistance”.
In making this announcement, the Commission recalls the context of the conflict “between Morocco and the separatist Polisario Front who claimed independence over an area in Western Sahara following Spain's withdrawal in 1975” (see EUROPE 10242). Negotiations, which have been taking place since 1991 under the aegis of the United Nations “have had no success to date”, the Commission reports. (F.B./transl.rt)