Algiers, March 10, 2013 (SPS) - The President of the Saharawi Red Crescent (SRC) Mr. Bouhebeini Yahia has warned of the deteriorating situation of Saharawi refugees, urging the international community to act “urgently” to help these people, during the announcement Sunday in Algiers of an Algerian humanitarian caravan to be launched on May.
“We appeal to the international community in general and donors in particular to act quickly to provide emergency aid for the Saharawi refugees, before it is too late,” said Mr. Bouhebeini.
He indicated that the humanitarian assistance has decreased in recent times and the size of aid provided by the donor countries in particular has significantly gone back due to the global financial crisis.
He referred in this regard to the case of Spain, whose aid fell back to more than 60%, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), whose budget decreased at $ 7 million, up from $ 9 million before.
Such restrictions, points out Mr. Bouhebeini , have had a negative impact on the situation and living conditions of refugees in the field of health and also education, where the programs have been suspended for this reason.
“Health situation is increasingly precarious in the Saharawi refugee camps, especially among vulnerable people,” he noted, adding that food shortages now affect 30% of children, while hemophilia affects 67% of lactating women and more than 55% of pregnant women.
He therefore warned that the situation could further deteriorate, if aid remains inadequate, condemning the fact that press are more interested in the new conflicts in the world and the humanitarian crises they cause, at the expense of the long-standing conflicts, including that in Western Sahara.
He also welcomed the Algerian initiative to send a humanitarian caravan to the Sahrawi refugees, which will, he says, alleviate the suffering of these people.
An Algerian humanitarian caravan of solidarity with the Saharawi people will be sent to the Sahrawi refugee camps in Tindouf on May, according to the President of the Algerian National Committee of Solidarity with the Saharawi People (CNASPS) Mr. Mahrez Lamari. (SPS)
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