Saharawi and Algerian Red Crescents expressed deep "concern" about the drastic shortage in food in the Saharawi refugee camps for September and the increase of the percentage of malnutrition and anaemia within the Saharawi population, a joined communiqué by the two organisations indicates.

"The Algerian Red Crescent and the Saharawi Red Crescent express their deep concern about the actual difficult conditions lived by the Saharawi refugees, especially with regards to the striking shortage in the food caused by the non respect by ECHO of its engagements vis-à-vis these refugees who depend basically on the international humanitarian aid", the text, of which SPS received a copy, underlines.

In this respect, the two organisations stressed that the Saharawi refugees received "only 44% of the quota dedicated to September", while it is "not clear if ECHO will deliver the aid of the month of next October or not".

Talking about the food situation of the Saharawi refuges, the two organisations also expressed their "concern about the increase of the percentage of malnutrition and anaemia within thousands children and pregnant women and breast-feeding mothers".

They gave as a proof on their allegations "the studies published by the UN agencies and other NGOs that indicate that 39% of the children under 5 years old suffer from malnutrition while 60% among them are anaemic. Pregnant women suffer from anaemia by 76%, which is at a level of 66% among mature women".

The two organisations launched an "urgent appeal" to the international community, to the donating countries and NGOs to "honour their engagements vis-à-vis 165.000 Saharawi refugees and providing them with humanitarian aid so as to prevent the worse".

This joined communiqué concluded a tour realised on Saturday by the President of the Algerian Red Crescent, Haj Hamou Ben Zgair, in the Saharawi refugee camps to investigate on the situation in the ground, it was indicated.