Chahid Al Hafed ( Sahrawi Refugee Camps), October 06, 2015 (SPS) - Saharawi Red Crescent (SRC) has launched today, an urgent appeal to all donors, humanitarian organizations and civil society organizations in order to hasten humanitarian assistance for Saharawi refugees, according to statement from the Sahrawi Red Crescent.
“20% is the percentage by which food rations given to most vulnerable Sahrawi refugees have decreased during current month of October, and it’s likely to increase more if no new contribution from donor countries arrives” stated the SRC
The continuation of decrease in donor states contributions addressed to Saharawi refugees will lead certainly to a deterioration of the already precarious humanitarian situation especially children and women in Saharawi refugee camps, added the Appeal of the SRC.
It worth mentioning here that more than 10 NGOs working in the Sahrawi Refugee Camps, has appealed in a letter addressed to donors on May 15, 2015, for a rapid response to refugees urgent needs and alerted that any delays to address these needs will worsen the humanitarian situation in the camps increasing thus the frustration and disappointment especially among the youth.(SPS)
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Below is the full text of Urgent Appeal of SRC
URGENT APPEAL
20% is the percentage by which food rations given to most vulnerable Sahrawi refugees have decreased during current month of October, and it’s likely to increase more if no new contribution from donor countries arrives. The continuing of this situation will increase the rate of malnutrition among children and women who are already suffering from malnutrition and anemia. It is well known that more than 25% of children under five years suffer from chronic malnutrition, and more than 50% of women suffer from anemia, in addition to that Saharawi refugee camps present the world highest rate of celiac and the member of refugees suffering from chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and other is in constant increase.
In his April 2015 report, UN Secretary General urged international community to deliver urgent assistance to Saharawi refugees in order to avoid more deterioration in the humanitarian situation. In their joint appeal on June 22, 2015, UNHCR , WFP and UNICEF Representatives in Algeria warned about the serious negative consequences on Saharawi refugees in the camps if donor countries don’t rush to cover the gaps in the assistance addressed to cover their basic and urgent humanitarian needs.
Moreover, the Consortium of NGOs working in Saharawi refugee camps, formed by more than 10 NGOs from different Countries, appealed in a letter addressed to donors (dated Mai 15, 2015) for a rapid response to refugees urgent needs and alerted that any delays to address these needs will worsen the humanitarian situation in the camps increasing thus the frustration and disappointment especially among the youth.
The continuation of decrease in donor states contributions addressed to Saharawi refugees will lead certainly to a deterioration of the already precarious humanitarian situation in Saharawi refugee camps, which will have a serious implications regarding the lives of thousands of children, women and elderly who depend entirely on humanitarian assistance. Therefore Saharawi Red Crescent addresses an URGENT APPEAL to all donors, humanitarian organizations and civil society organizations in order to hasten humanitarian assistance for Saharawi refugees to cover their minimal humanitarian needs for the remaining period of 2015 and which are estimated at $ 6 Million for food basic needs and at $ 5 Million for other needs especially water and hygiene materials, medicines, tents, school materials among others.
Saharawi refugee camps
October 6, 2015