28th February 2011 Western Sahara Refugee Camps - Tindouf (Algeria)

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1 28th February 2011 Western Sahara Refugee Camps - Tindouf (Algeria) THE CAUSE: After 35 years of conflict this, the 11th event of its kind, aims to raise international awareness for the plight of the refugees from Western Sahara. Three decades have passed without the parties involved being able to reach agreement or the international community being able to resolve the conflict. Three decades of suffering for a people who s hopes are buried by conflict, generation after generation, in the refugee camps of Tindouf, far from their country. Through sport, the Sahara Marathon, attempts to (highlight the problem to western society )provide an element of normality to the situation while raising humanitarian aid for the refugees. Runners from more than 15 different countries will participate in this event. THE RACES: Although the marathon is the principal and longest race, a number of other lesser distance races are scheduled to run simultaneously. All events will take place on the 28 th February and all will finish at the Smara camp. The races are as follows: Marathon El Ayoun Auserd Smara Half Marathon Auserd Smara 10 km Farmacia Smara 5 km Paco Smara

2 - Participants will be transferred to the starting point of each respective event on the morning of race day. - The route for each race will be marked using stone cairns and other temporary markers. The races cross a terrain of compacted earth, loose stones and occasional areas of soft sand. The route of the marathon is largely flat apart from a series of low rises that occur between 20 and 30 km. - Water stops are provided at fixed points along the route and also carried by all terrain vehicles providing assistance to runners during the event. - The International Red Crescent also provides medical assistance at fixed points on route as well as in mobile all terrain vehicles. - It is recommended that sunglasses and headscarves are carried to provide protection against both sun and windblown sand. TRAVELL: An Air Algerie aircraft has been chartered to transport the Spanish delegation from Madrid to Tindouf, leaving on Friday 25 th February and returning on Friday 4 th March. However, in the event that less than 100 participants register to take the chartered flight it may be necessary to revert to scheduled flights requiring a change of aircraft in Algiers. The meeting point will be at the counter of Air Algerie in the new Terminal T-4 at Barajas airport, where you will have to be at 18:30h. The visa is collective and we will bring it. Don t forget your passport and make sure about the expire date. The plane will make a technical stop at Orán or Alger, but normally there s no need to get out of the plane.

3 THE PROGRAMM: All participants and supporters will stay in the tents of local Saharawi families while at the Smara camp. Families will also provide meals with the exception of a meal ( pasta party ) to be held on the evening before the race, a picnic after the race and a breakfast on race morning. The programme is as follows: - Friday 25 th Flight from Madrid to Tindouf and allocation of lodgings. - Saturday 26 st Race registration, free time to explore the Smara camp. All meals provided at the assigned family tent. - Sunday 27 nd National Day celebrating the 34 th anniversary of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR). Breakfast and lunch with families and pasta party in the evening for all. Instructions for the next day s events. - Monday 28 rd Breakfast at the Protocol Building. 11 th Sahara Marathon. - Tuesday 1 st Awards Ceremony in Smara. Programme of visits to hospitals, schools and other sites of interest. - Wednesday 2 nd Children race and soccer match. - Thursday 3 rd Trip and snack at the Smara dunes. - Friday 4 th - Flight to Madrid. OUR STAY: The saharaui village is very hospitable and they receive us with open arms. Anyway we should show all our respect to their traditions and integrate us in their way of life. All participants will sleep in haimas of different families in Smara; you will be distribuited in groups of 4-5 persons in each haima. They will take very good care of you, invite you to have tea, they will give you some gifts and they will make you food. The organisation will give each family what s necessary for your maintenance. In any case, whoever wants, not obligatory, could make a gift for the children or make some kind of donation. FOOD: The night before the race there will be pasta dinner at Protocol, you will have breakfast and picnic at Protocol during the race day. The rest of the eating will take

4 place with your family. They will offer you mainly pasta, rice, lenses, potatoes...it is convenient to avoid meat and be careful with the salads to avoid stomacal problems. It is very important that you only drink bottled water. If you want to you can bring some cheese, sausage, cans that will give you some energy in case you need it, and if you don t eat it you could give it to the family. They usually don t eat pork, but if you invite them respectfully they will probably join the party. LUGGAGE: It is a small airplane and besides the normal weight limit of 20 kg per person please note that we bring a lot of material for the proyect. We ask you to not bring too much luggage. It is convenient to bring a sleeping bag (some people bring a cheap one and leave it there). Don t forget a lantern, toilet paper and wet towels, sun glasses...temperatures: during the day it is spring temperature (20º-25º) and at night is quite chilly (10º) so it is recommended to bring an anorak or a warm sweater. SECURITY: The organisation brings its own first aid kit, and during the race there s medical service and you got a Hospital in Smara, but we recommend you to bring some basic staff (for headaches, diarrhoea...). The camps are quite safe but there have been a few thefts during former years (cameras, shoes) we recommend you to always bring your value items with you together with all the documentation, and sleep beside your bag. SHOPS: If you want to buy something you can use Euros (don t bring big bills). There are quite a lot of shops where you can buy artisan articles and have a drink. You can also find locutories where you can call home. The best is to bring one of the childs with you so they can understand you better. REGISTRATION: The deadline for registration is the 1st January The cost of registration is 900 Euros per person. Included in this price are the following: - Return flight - Madrid to Tindouf / Tindouf to Madrid. - Transfer from Tindouf to Smara. - Accommodation and meals with assigned local families. - Race registration. - Medal for all participants. - Souvenir photograph.

5 - T-shirt. - Travel insurance - Visa - Unique visit to the camps. - Support of humanitarian projects. To register complete the following information and send it by to diego.munoz@lastlap.com Name Address Telephone no. Nationality & Passport no. Date of birth Intended race (Marathon / ½ marathon etc) Occupation The registration will be invalid until full payment has been received in the following bank account: Proyecto Sahara CIF G Barclays (Serrano, Madrid) CC IBAN ES SWIFT BARCESMM FURTHER INFORMATION: