Brussels, 04/06/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 4 June, the Commission granted €10 million in humanitarian aid for the "forgotten refugees" from the Western Sahara. ECHO, the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid department will be in charge of channelling this aid to the Sahrawi population living in camps near Tindouf, western Algeria. 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. The Commission indicated that “these refugees are trapped in one of the world's oldest "frozen" and forgotten conflicts. As long as this conflict remains in a political and diplomatic deadlock, the refugees remain almost totally dependent on international aid for their survival”. The Commission also pointed out that the EU is the main donor in this long 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. (F.B./transl.rh)