United Nations System
Standing Committee on Nutrition

Western Sahrawi in Algeria

Western Sahara is a former Spanish colony which was subsequently annexed by Morocco and Mauritania in 1975-1976. The Sahrawi Polisario Liberation Front declared the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) and formed a government in exile. In 1979, Mauritania abandoned its territorial claim but fighting between Morocco and the Polisario Front continued until 1991, when a UN sponsored peace plan was adopted. The peace process included a referendum in which the country's inhabitants must choose whether Western Sahara would integrate with Morocco or be independent. However, the referendum has not yet been implemented, because of a deadlock over who is eligible to vote (Oneworld, 12/02). By late 1975, thousands of people had fled annexed territories to camps in the east of the region. After the camps had been bombarded with napalm, people moved further to south-west Algeria, near the oasis town of Tindouf. Some 155,000 to 165,000 people, according to different estimates, mainly women, children and the elderly, are settled in four camps in this isolated desert area. The camps are administered by SADR ministries. Isolation and the environmental hostility of the area makes humanitarian aid difficult to deliver and impedes refugee selfsufficiency. Major food providers are WFP and ECHO. WFP often experiences lapses of contributions; in June 2002 refugees only received cereals as oil and pulses were not available (AFROL, 08/06/02). WFP also fears severe food shortfall from September 2002 (WFP, 08/02). Despite diet diversification activities (poultry, livestock and horticultural projects) and income-generating activities having been put in place, it is thought that the refugees are highly dependent on food aid. However, no food security assessment has been undertaken. Inadequate water supply and poor water quality appear to be two of the main problems in the camps (USCR, 2002). UNHCR had to postpone improvement in water delivery because of a funding shortfall (AFROL, 24/10/02).

A survey was undertaken in September 2002 in the refugee camps, with the aim of assessing under-five anthropometric status and micronutrient deficiencies (ICH/UNHCR/WFP/MOH, 09/02). Preliminary results indicate an average nutrition situation: 10.6 % of the children were acutely malnourished, including 2.2 % severely malnourished. The prevalence of malnutrition has remained stable since 1997 (see graph).

Acute malnutrition, Sarahwi refugees in Algeria

Stunting was present in 32.8% of the children (95% CI: 29.7-36.1), including 11.2% (95% CI: 9.2-13.5) severe stunting. After a significant improvement between 1997 and 2001, probably partly due to distribution of micronutrient enriched food, stunting has remained stable (see graph).

Stunting, Sarahwi refugees in Algeria

According to vaccination cards, measles vaccination coverage of 12-23 month-old children was 66.7%, but was higher for BCG (78.6%) and DPT (77.0%). Adult anthropometry was not assessed in this survey, but the 2001 survey reported that about 60% of the women of reproductive age were overweight (BMI > 25) (CISP/UNHCR/INRAN, 12/01). Final results of the 2002 survey will be reported in the next RNIS issue, including micronutrient status and diet pattern.

Overall - The nutrition situation of Sahrawi refugee children seems average (category III) but could deteriorate if refugees were highly dependent on food aid and that food aid were to be disrupted by pipeline breaks. Analyses of food security and underlying causes of malnutrition need to be undertaken to better understand the overall nutrition situation of the refugees.