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Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ and EU mark first year of multi-annual partnership in support of Sahrawi Refugees

ALGIERS ¨C This month, the United Nations Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ (Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ) and the European Union (EU) mark one year of the multi-annual partnership between the two organisations that helped Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ provide monthly food assistance to those most vulnerable Sahrawi refugees in Algeria.

Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ received in July 2023 the first tranche of the multi-year EU funding €5 million. This was used to provide 133,672 rations in what is considered one of the world¡¯s most protracted crises where 78% of refugees are food insecure. 

¡°We are extremely grateful to the EU for continuing their support and solidifying their humanitarian assistance to the Sahrawi refugees in Algeria,¡± said Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ Representative and Country Director in Algeria Aline Rumonge. ¡°This partnership means that we have stable and predictable funding which allows us to continue to deliver vital food assistance some of the most vulnerable people who have very limited income opportunities.¡±  

Refugees from Western Sahara have lived in camps near the remote southwestern Algerian town of Tindouf since 1975. Heat, scarcity of water and the challenging political and socio-economic context, mean people struggle to access livelihood opportunities. Most of the camp population depend on Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ assistance to cover their dietary needs. 

In 2023, thanks to donors like the EU, Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ distributed more than 2,000 metric tons of in-kind food assistance per month. Some 8,600 pregnant and nursing mothers received monthly cash-based transfers (CBT) to diversify their diets and thereby contribute to anemia prevention. Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ also provides special nutritious food to treat and prevent moderate acute malnutrition and anemia among women and children under five. 

The EU is the largest donor to Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ in Algeria. Since 2003, the total EU contributions supporting Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ¡¯s operations for Sahrawi refugees in the country have reached €97 million (US$118 million). 

Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ has been supporting the Sahrawi refugees in Algeria since 1986. Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ¡¯s operations in the country are carried out and monitored in collaboration with national and international organizations to ensure food assistance reaches the people for whom it is intended. 

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The United Nations Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ is the world¡¯s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies, building prosperity and supporting a sustainable future for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change. 

 

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Topics

Algeria Partnerships Refugees and migration Funding

Contact

For more information please contact (email address: firstname.lastname@wfp.org): 

Abderezak Bouhaceine, Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ/Algiers, Mob. +213 661984724