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SPS 12.000 families and more than 50.000 homeless after torrential rains in the Saharawi refugee’s camps, UNHCR alerts 14.02.06
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Chahid El Hafed, 14/02/2006 (SPS) UNHCR affirmed in its website, on Monday, that "torrential rains", in the Saharawi refugees camps in the Algerian region of Tindouf, have destroyed 50% of the structure of these camps, leaving 12.000 families and 50.000 persons without shelters.
Quoting a press release publicised the same day by its Agency in Tindouf, UNHCR asserted that "25% of the remaining shelters are now under threat of collapsing after abnormally strong rains falling since Thursday".
On another hand the text indicated that the "emergency assessment mission estimates 12,000 tents are needed, along with plastic sheeting for 12,000 families, 510 plastic rolls, 7,000 kitchen sets, 60,000 blankets, 40,000 mattresses, and 20,000 jerry cans", in addition to food and drugs.
According to the evaluation of HCR’s agency in Tindouf, "25-30 percent of the mud-brick houses were completely destroyed; with at least 70 percent of families' food stocks are ruined".
"We are very concerned about the effect the flood damage will have on the Saharawi refugees who have already lived under very difficult circumstances for so long," said Radhouane Nouicer, UNHCR's Geneva-based deputy director for the region, the same source said.
060/090/000 141418 Feb 06 SPS
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SPS ''Any solution to the conflict of Western Sahara will be within the framework of the Security Council and the UN's resolutions", according to Jack Straw
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Fés, 14/02/2006 (SPS) "Any solution (to the conflict of Western Sahara-Ed) will be within the framework of the Security Council and the UN's resolutions", indicated the British Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr. Jack Straw, on Monday in Fes during a few hours visit to Morocco. He affirmed that Great Britain supports the UN's efforts to resolve the conflict, reported Algerian Press Agency, APS.
The Head of the British diplomacy affirmed, in a press conference after his visit to Morocco, that ''Any solution to the conflict of Western Sahara will be within the framework of the Security Council and the UN's resolutions".
He further stressed that "London supports the UN's Secretary General and his Personal Envoy" for Western Sahara, affirming that Great Britain also "supports the Security Council's efforts to find a solution to the Saharawi question'', the same source added. (SPS)
060/090/700 141303 Feb 06 SPS
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SPS Saharawi refugee camps after torrential rains and floods (Smara camp)
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Smara (Saharawi refugee camps), 14/02/2006 (SPS) The Wilaya of Smara widely suffered the torrential rains that stroke the different camps of the Saharawi refugees in the Algerian region of Tindouf, since last Thursday.
The camera of SPS shot some images on the ground, this morning, knowing that the weather has largely calmed down.
UNHCR affirmed, on Monday, that "torrential rains", in the Saharawi refugees camps in the Algerian region of Tindouf, have destroyed 50% of the structure of these camps, leaving 12.000 families and 50.000 persons without shelters, it should be recalled. (SPS)
060/090/000 142008 Feb 06 SPS
Photos taken in the Daira of Haouza (Smara camp)
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SPS The President of the Republic receives a Representative of Spanish AECI
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Chahid El Hafed, 14/02/2006 (SPS) The President of the Republic, Mohamed Abdelaziz, received the Representative of the Spanish Agency of International Cooperation (AECI) for the aid of the Saharawi Refugees, Ana Maria Gonzalez Ortiz, Tuesday morning at the seta of the Presidency.
The meeting discussed the latest developments of the situation in the Saharawi refugee’s camps, recently stricken by torrential rains that destroyed more than 50 per cent of the structure of the camps, leaving 12.000 families and more than 50.000 homeless persons, according to the evaluations of the UNHCR agency on the ground.
Mrs. Gonzalez Ortiz informed the Head of the State about the measures adopted by the Spanish Government to bring help to the refugees, underlining that its organisation has "immediately convoked a meeting of its cadres", this February the 12th, followed by another meeting "with the Ministers of Cooperation of the different autonomous Governments with the presence of the Polisario Front’s Representative in Spain, Mr. Brahim Ghali", declared Mr. Aabdati Breika, Medias Councillor at the Presidency.
The Spanish official also informed the President of the Republic that her Government will send 3 airplanes carrying some 48 tons of humanitarian aid, the same source said, underlining that 2 of them already landed in the airport of the Algerian city of Tindouf, this afternoon.
An important Spanish delegation, composed of Dr. Juan Bartolomé, Expert in emergencies, Dr. Pablo Muelas, Director of the AECI’s Sector of humanitarian and Emergency Aid, and Mr. Sergio Ferrero, Expert in the AECI.
The third plane, which is carrying the necessary equipments to establish a hospital with a team composed of 4 specialised Doctors, will fly on Wednesday within the framework of this "first phase" of the urgent aid procedure.
"Spain, according to Mrs. Ana Maria Gonzalez Ortiz, has clearly expressed its availability to provide an important and urgent help to the Saharawi refugees aimed to help them surmount this ordeal", Mr. Breika affirmed.
AECI put under the disposition of the Spanish citizens a phone number to receive their donation in favour of the Saharawi refugees, it was further indicated. (SPS)
060/090/000 141341 Feb 06 SPS
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SAHARA
PRESS SERVICE