Refugee Camps.

The Saharawi refugee camps near Tindouf, Algeria were established during the second half of the 1970s by Saharawi from Western Sahara who fled Moroccan forces. There are five refugee camps: Aousserd, Boujdour, Dakhla, El Ayoun, and Smara, which are administratively divided into districts and sub-districts. As of December 31, 2017, the total Sahrawi refugee population residing in these camps was approximately 173,600 (source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Sahrawi Refugees in Tindouf, Algeria: Total In‐Camp Population, 2018).

The Saharawi refugees face many challenges and they have learned to adapt to their difficult circumstances to make ends meet. They live in tents or in adobe or cement block houses without running water or reliable electricity.

Saharawi rely heavily on the UNHCR, Algerian government, and other humanitarian aid organizations for many vital resources. Throughout the month, the World Food Program and other humanitarian organizations provide emergency food rations, which is then distributed by the Red Crescent to the sub-districts in each camp for each refugee to pick up. In addition, approximately every two weeks, UNHCR water trucks refill the water reservoir of each household. However, the heat of the dry summer months makes this time of year nearly unbearable, and yet the Saharawi have learned to endure these harsh conditions.