Pat Rabbitte
Ceist:54 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will offer direct humanitarian assistance to the Saharawi refugee camps in Tindouf and the other occupied territories. [29662/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 6 July 2010
Ceisteanna (48)
Freagraí scríofa
In response to the Moroccan occupation of the former Spanish colony of Western Sahara in 1975 and the ensuing conflict, much of the indigenous population of the region fled into Algeria. This resulted in the creation of the Saharawi refugee camp in the Tindouf region of south-western Algeria, which now represents one of the world's most protracted refugee situations. There is no formal registration of refugees in the camp, but they are believed to number more than 150,000, of whom 80 per cent are believed to be women and children.
Ireland provides core funding to United Nations agencies which work on our behalf in areas such as Tindouf. For example, the World Food Programme, a key partner for Ireland, provides a general food package to the most vulnerable refugees in the Saharawi camp. Since 1986 the value of this assistance has totalled more than €125 million.
The UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) is also active in the Tindouf region, where it provides for basic needs and services in most sectors including food, transport, domestic needs, water, sanitation, health, shelter, community service and protection. Providing health and education assistance is the responsibility of UN Children's Fund (UNICEF). Its role includes vaccination coverage, establishing family centres, distributing schools kits, and supporting the printing of text books and improving teacher training.
In addition, the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), to which Ireland has contributed €73 million since 2006, has provided funding for Tindouf. In 2009 UNHCR received funding from CERF for its emergency programmes to help some 90,000 Saharawi refugees.