Chahid El Hafed, 15/02/2006 (SPS) The European Committee (EC) offered an emergency humanitarian aid, of 900.000 euros, to the Saharawi refugees, after the torrential rains that destroyed more than 50 per cent of the structure of the refugee camps, leaving more than 12.000 families without shelters according to the first estimations of the UNHCR’s agency on the ground, reported Algerian Press Agency, APS, quoting the EC’s delegation in Algiers.

 

The financing will be guaranteed via the service of humanitarian aid of the European Committee, ECHO, under the responsibility of the Commissioner, Louis Michel, who estimated that the "consequences of this natural disaster aggravates the difficulties the Saharawi refugees are facing for the last three decades".

 

"By providing an urgent aid, in these circumstances, e reaffirm the solidarity of the European citizens", with the disaster-stricken refugees, the same source indicated.

 

The measures financed by the Committee will help to face the most urgent needs of the stricken persons and will provide them with tents, plastic covers, blankets and mattresses, it was indicated.

 

Some 12.000 families were left without shelters, because torrential rains had destroyed more than 50 per cent of the houses, administrations and the structure of the refugee camps, basically built with adobe bricks, UNHCR and Saharawi Red Crescent had affirmed in their preliminary evaluations.

 

Most individual food stocks were polluted and diluted by the floods, the markets of the camps were seriously affected, while some were completely destroyed, the same source added.

 

An expert of the Committee now on the ground to evaluate the needs of the disaster-stricken refugees and follow the progress of the situation, the European Committee further indicated. (SPS)

 

060/090/700 151221 Feb 06 SPS

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