Tindouf flood relief: Governments step forward

We're pleased to report that several governments have come forward in response to our urgent appeals for additional air support to fly about 150 tonnes of relief items from our stockpiles in Jordan to some 60,000 Sahrawi refugees left homeless by severe flooding in three camps in western Algeria.

The French government offered us two C-130 sorties, which over the weekend transported some 20 tonnes of relief items to Oran, west of Algiers. Today, a Turkish C-130 loaded with 5,100 blankets is expected to take off from Amman to Oran airport. Another Turkish C-130 is being loaded right now in Amman with blankets, ready to take off tomorrow to the same destination. In addition, the United States confirmed to us yesterday that it will provide two An-124 sorties on 6 and 8 March which will carry the remaining 110 tonnes of tents, mattresses, plastic sheets and blankets to the flood-stricken refugee camps.

Thanks to the French flights and earlier ones by Italian and Portuguese planes, we have so far delivered 693 family tents; 500 large plastic sheets; 600 mattresses and 9,750 jerry cans. Most of the tents have already been distributed and more are on the way. By the middle of next week, we hope to have an additional 707 tents, 43,000 blankets, 2,500 plastic sheets, 9,400 mattresses, and several tonnes of soap and sanitary napkin kits on the ground.

This assistance is in addition to support already provided by the Algerians and the Spanish. This week, the Algerian government trucked in 26 loads of relief items, in addition to 4,000 tents and other items already delivered. Last Sunday, 600 tents provided by the NGO, Norwegian Church Aid, were flown in by the Russian military. UNHCR provided all logistical support on the ground and is assisting with the distribution.

Three of five Sahrawi refugee sites around Tindouf were severely damaged by heavy rains and flooding 9-11 February. More than half of the houses in Awserd, Smara and Laayoune camps were destroyed by the floodwaters. Many others suffered severe damage. Clinics, schools and other camp facilities were also destroyed. We have now provided tents as temporary alternatives until these facilities can be rebuilt. Sahrawi refugees began arriving in Algeria in 1976 after Spain withdrew from the Western Sahara and fighting broke out over its control. Most of the Sahrawi refugees have been living for more than 30 years in the desert regions of western Algeria, totally dependent on outside assistance. UNHCR is currently supporting 90,000 of the most vulnerable refugees.