The initiatives of the different humanitarian and development organizations have made it possible to improve the current living conditions for refugees in Tindouf, but their quality of life remains precarious. It is therefore necessary to develop sustainable solutions that enable the self-management of cooperation projects, by strengthening the local capacities of the refugee population. To this end, the UPM Platform on Refugees began working in the Saharawi refugee camps, in order to identify their needs and priorities through the NAUTIA methodology.
The Wilaya of Smara was chosen as a second case study in the application of the NAUTIA Methodology, since it is one of the most highly populated camps, with 50,700 inhabitants.
Saharawi refugee camps do not include their host community, as these are located a great distance away from the camps. In this sense, the preliminary study was only carried out with the refugee community. The data collection mission in Smara began in December 2019, throughout the seven districts of Smara: Mahbas, Farsia, Jadria, Tifariti, Mahriz and Hauza. To do so, it was necessary to identify the key local actors and places of interest, such as: schools, health centers, community centers, sports centers, markets, gardens, businesses and hospitals.
First, spatial information was gathered from a sample of 20 households per district, enabling the collection of detailed data on infrastructure (water, sanitation, energy, waste management and transport), public spaces and productive areas (organic gardens, fish farms, poultry farms, research centers and agricultural production centers), urban services (schools, special education centers, social support centers, sports centers, health centers, hospitals, shops), and housing.
The drinking water supply comes from deep wells fed by aquifers with moderate productivity, filling metal tanks with a capacity of 240 m3.
The distribution for public consumption is provided through 450 community taps that reach just 50% of the population. The other half of the population is supplied by tanker trucks, achieving a provision of 11L / person / day. To date, the minimum amount of drinking water required for adequate health has not been established, as this depends on accessibility, which in turn is determined by distance, time, reliability and cost. The basic level of access does not exceed 20L/ person/ day, and may be even lower if the supply is intermittent, thus presenting a greater health risk.
According to the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), the water is treated via osmosis plants, which become contaminated once transferred to the household storage systems, mainly due to their poor state of maintenance. The water supply in the camps is provided by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Solidaridad Internacional Andalucía and OXFAM. In addition, there is no sewage system nor wastewater treatment system.
Electricity supply via power lines is covered by Algeria in all camps, with the exception of Laayoune and Dajla, which are still under construction and implementation. Electricity is intended for use in individual homes and shops, as there is no street lighting in the camps. Although there are no records of payment of the electricity provided to households, some have claimed that this is indeed a paid service. According to surveys conducted, businesses make payments of around €10 per month. In Laayoune and Dajla in particular, homes have solar panels, many of which have been damaged due to improper use and maintenance, mainly because the owners are not familiar with their use.
In terms of urban planning, the Saharawi refugee camps are considered settlements in development. This is because after 45 years of exile, the refugees are no longer in the emergency phase, and the camps are now organized by Wilayas (provinces), Dairas (towns) and neighborhoods. They have also built hospitals, medical clinics, schools, markets, mosques and libraries, among other things. Because of their location and the distance between Algiers and the Saharawi refugee camps (200km), the host community does not reside in the camps. The camps lack paved roads and a drainage network, so during the rainy season they often flood, resulting in the loss and destruction of homes.
People travel within the camps by car, bicycle or on foot. External travel includes buses, shared cars or taxis. In general, refugees travel to Algiers for educational purposes and to Tindouf for business purposes.
The spaces available for public use are markets, mosques (for men only) and libraries. Due to the extreme conditions of the hamada desert, there are no other open recreational spaces available for the refugee population.
Urban waste management in the camps is inefficient and practically non-existent. Trash collection is carried out weekly (every Sunday). A truck collects trash each week from a specific location in the camp, where waste is deposited. Subsequently, the collected trash is incinerated in the desert, but the ashes are not managed afterwards in any way and are left in the same place where they are burned. The amount of waste generated per family is not monitored either, though data of this kind would enable more appropriate waste management planning.
The rate of child malnutrition in Smara is one of the highest, accompanied by high rates of anemia among pregnant and lactating women; a situation that was exacerbated by flooding in 2008, 2012 and 2016.
One of the factors that also affects food security is the nutritional quality of the food. Refugees have limited access to fresh produce, such as vegetables and meat, as their diet is based on the basic food basket provided by the World Food Programme (WFP), managed by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) and Oxfam. These basic food provisions consist of canned products, wheat flour, vegetable oil, rice, sugar, lentils, soy and wheat. However, the food included in basic household provisions does not represent the traditional diet of the Saharawi people, which has reflected a lack of interest in the population itself by not taking their cultural identity into account. Fresh produce, such as onions, potatoes, carrots and apples are also distributed. All households receive the same amount of food, regardless of the number of family members per household.
In addition to the above, the soil characteristics of the hamada desert are a limiting factor for both agricultural production and the availability of sufficient feed for livestock farming. There are no reliable sources of employment in the camps, where men typically work in construction and trade, and very few in agriculture (community gardens). On the other hand, the majority of women are in charge of caring for the household and child-rearing. Faced with such difficulties, the food security of refugees has been met through humanitarian aid provided by international agencies.
It is also important to note the existence of a poultry farm and a fish farm, both of which are located in the Hussein Tamek poultry complex. To this end, a small percentage of egg production is allocated to the Saharawi Red Crescent for further distribution to the refugee population most in need. With regard to the fish farm pilot project (where tilapia is produced), part of the produce will go to pregnant women and children with anemia.
There are various educational centers in the camps, such as kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, religious schools, craft schools (bakeries, mechanics, carpentry), schools for people with special education needs, English and French language centers, a film school, and a network of “Bubisher” libraries and mobile libraries. This network of libraries is part of a non-profit association that was launched in 2008, with the aim of promoting Spanish language education among children and adults.
The health system is comprised of the General Hospital of Rabunni, regional hospitals, and several clinics that are strategically located so as to be close to the camps. Existing dispensaries in each Daira provide care for patients who require medical check-ups or maternity care; however, they are not equipped with sufficient air conditioning or medical supplies. In addition, such outpatient clinics do not provide care for serious cases or major surgeries, as these are transferred to hospitals. Among the most common chronic conditions experienced by refugees are diabetes and hypertension among adults, and anemia in women and infants.
The population has had to build their own homes, health centers, schools and markets with materials provided by organizations or by using available materials. In this sense, it is evident that these buildings lack a resilient design that would allow them to tackle climate-related risks. There is no shade in the desert of the Algerian hamada, so all homes during the summer experience temperatures upward of 30°C, which is far from comfortable.
