ALGERIA UNHCR OPERATIONAL UPDATE May 2015 KEY FIGURES 90,000 Vulnerable Sahrawi refugees living in five camps near Tindouf 5,596 Persons of concern registered with UNHCR Algiers; 4,857 are Syrians 240 Syrians approach UNHCR on a monthly basis for registration 100 Per cent of school-aged children (32,028) in Tindouf are enrolled in primary education 18 Litres of potable water available per person per day in Sahrawi refugee camps HIGHLIGHTS Roughly 240 Syrians are registered each month and an average of 60 individuals and families from other nationalities undergo refugee status determination each month. UNHCR supports four women s centres in four Sahrawi refugee camps around Tindouf. UNHCR also provides support to a library, folk arts festival and cultural activities in all the camps, and workshops on the rights of Sahrawi women, as well as conservation of Sahrawi cultural heritage. UNHCR field staff carrying out post-food distribution monitoring in Smara refugee camp near Tindouf, May 2015. M.Boulanouar/UNHCR UNHCR supports 60 per cent of the costs associated with medical materials and consumables and the incentives for 20 doctors from the Sahrawi refugee community that are engaged in five regional hospitals. FUNDING USD 33.2 Million Requested for the operation The operation is 20% funded Population of concern A total of 95,596 people of concern Urban refugees 5,596 Funds 20% Sahrawi refugees in camps near Tindouf 90,000 Gap 80% 1
UPDATE ON ACHIEVEMENTS Operational Context Algeria, traditionally a transit country, has become the destination country for an increasing number of migrants, particularly from sub-saharan African countries. Developments in the wider region, combined with tighter interception measures, and more restrictive asylum policies adopted by countries in the European Union, have increased the number of asylum requests in Algeria. The strategic geographical location and relatively strong economy also make Algeria a logical transit point and a final destination for sizeable mixed migration movements. While the majority of these movements are economically motivated, some are prompted by asylum related factors. The latter category has grown significantly since 2011 in connection with the post-election crisis in Ivory Coast, the recent crisis in Mali and Syria, as well as the on-going political changes and instability in North Africa, most notably in Libya. The urban refugee and asylum seeker communities often arrive in Algeria without resources and cannot access the formal labour market, thus lack the means to purchase food, domestic and hygienic items such as blankets, mattresses, ovens, soap, hygiene products, washing powder, and chlorine. Pending the adoption of a national refugee law and the establishment of an asylum procedure consistent with international standards, registration and individual refugee status determination (RSD) are conducted by UNHCR. Approximately 240 Syrians are registered each month and an average of 60 individuals and their families from other nationalities undergo RSD each month. UNHCR has successfully intervened on several detention cases, although the number of arrests remains significant due to the prevailing security situation in the country. UNHCR continued to provide protection and undertake activities in care and maintenance to 90,000 most vulnerable Sahrawis living in five camps in Tindouf pending a durable solution to their plight. An additional 35,000 food rations are distributed to address the poor nutritional status in the camps. The refugees face challenges as a result of the protracted nature of their situation. In light of this situation the three UN agencies present in the Saharawi refugee camps (UNHCR/WFP/UNICEF) launched a livelihoods initiative aimed at making aid projects more economically viable and creating sustainable employment opportunities. This was achieved through continued support to the youth centres including cultural activities, sports competitions and arts events for youth and women s groups in the camps through UNHCR s partner. This resulted in greater self-reliance and addressing needs among the refugee community, in particular youth. Achievements Protection Urban refugees registered with BO Algiers According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, there are over 43,000 Syrians in Algeria. Some 4,857 Syrians are registered with UNHCR. In addition, there are 130 refugees in urban settings who mainly originate from the Côte d Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq and Palestine. UNHCR also conducts protection activities such as monitoring, intervening on detention cases, legal assistance to survivors of SGBV, sensitization campaigns to prevent human rights violations, seeking durable solutions through resettlement and voluntary repatriation, Best Interest Determination for unaccompanied minors and training for partners, local authorities, and government officials. 2
The Office has engaged in an open dialogue with the Algerian Government in an effort to promote the establishment of a responsive national asylum system, inter alia, by building its capacity notably with refugee law training activities. UNHCR has successfully intervened on several detention cases. However, the number of arrests remains significant due to the prevailing security situation in the country. Sahrawi Refugees in the five camps near Tindouf The UNHCR office in Tindouf continues implementing multi-sectoral activities for the refugees in the five camps there, focusing primarily on protection, community services, education, WASH, health, food and nutrition, shelter, energy, transport and logistics. Home visits are conducted regularly to ensure the basic necessities of the refugees are met and to identify and address any specific need. UNHCR Operational Update, May 2015 - Algeria UNHCR continues to intervene in primary health care by providing life-saving equipment, consumables and medicine, laboratory equipment and supporting Sahrawi health workers with reproductive health/midwifery and HIV/AIDS training and incentives for effective implementation. UNHCR provides shelter materials (tents known as jaimas ) to refugees with specific needs to reduce a cumulative estimated 13,176 households in need of shelter; provides domestic fuel by distributing refilled gas cylinders to some 27,000 families; distributes hygiene kits to women and girls of reproductive age with the aim to increase the coverage from 33 per cent to at least 50 per cent; and supports specific groups (children, youth, persons with disabilities, older persons and women) with targeted activities. UNHCR continues working with the various community groups to enhance their self-management and involve them in participatory activities and assessments. Youth centres host cultural activities, sports competitions and arts events for youth and women s groups in the camps through UNHCR s partners, namely l Association des Femmes Algérienne pour le Développement (AFAD), Info-Com Solidarité, and Algerian Red Crescent, while self-reliance and livelihood opportunities are available for targeted groups. The Office adapted its support to the Sahrawi legal institutions by maintaining financial incentives, and began supporting sensitization activities, such as training to UNHCR staff and community workers on the judicial system and procedures to enhance their ability to assist and orient persons of concern. Training of judicial workers is also organized to improve their practices in line with international standards. Twenty-five community outreach workers have begun sensitization campaigns with their community on relevant topics such as documentation. Assistance to people with specific needs targets 3,000 individuals including people with mental and physical disabilities as well as bedridden and unaccompanied elderly individuals. UNHCR is providing diapers, clothes, hygienic materials and incentives for 178 staff (129 social workers and 49 specialized educators) working with these people of concern. Asylum seeker family living in precarious conditions on a construction site in Algiers shot during AGDM home visits. UNHCR BO Algiers In Tindouf, UNHCR is working towards building the capacity and improving the work of Sahrawi Police and the judicial system to reduce protection risks for women, men, boys, and girls, and to decrease criminality. There is an urgent need to construct a courthouse in Awserd camp, and a centre for women s protection and minors in Rabouni. Assistance to the elderly that includes special diets and hygiene materials is an identified gap. Support to 138 people suffering from cerebral palsy needs strengthening. Also, the current health services do not include advanced medication for people with chronic illness. Without specialized care, the health conditions of these people with specific needs will deteriorate resulting in increased mortality. 3
Education Tindouf: UNHCR ensures that all children aged 6-11/12-14 years are enrolled in primary and intermediate schools, by providing financial incentives to 1,719 primary and intermediate school teachers in the five camps, as well as training in teaching and school management, and textbooks and stationery to the schools. Algiers: School-age refugee children under 15 years enjoy the same free access to public schools as Algerian nationals. UNHCR provides the enrolment fees in private schools for children aged 15 years and over. UNHCR also provides transport, school supplies and a daily meal for refugee children in schools. Health Tindouf: UNHCR supports 60 per cent of the needs in the health sector with consumables/reagents, laboratory and dental care services. Twenty medical doctors (from the refugee community) have been engaged in the five regional hospitals. UNHCR provides the payment of incentives. All malnourished children and pregnant and lactating women benefit from a supplementary feeding programme that is implemented jointly with WFP and the Croissant Rouge Algérien (CRA). All children under five and pregnant and lactating women receive lipid-based nutrition supplements and micro-nutrients powder for anaemia. A strategy has been developed to improve access to Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) and activities related to capacity building, sensitization, and the development of the MHPSS network have begun. Algiers: Refugees in Algiers and other urban centres enjoy the same free access to public healthcare facilities as Algerian nationals. The costs of medication, X-Ray and laboratory tests, which are not provided free of charge, are covered by UNHCR for mandate refugee and the most vulnerable asylum seekers. The government is providing people of concern with free HIV/AIDS ARI treatment and UNHCR has enabled access to free condoms. Tindouf: A new protocol for the programme targeting pregnant and lactating women was developed with stakeholders: WFP, UNHCR, Sahrawi Ministry of Health, OXFAM Solidarité, MDM Spain and ARC. Its implementation has not yet started due to budget constraints faced by WFP. Algiers: The Office can only cover a limited amount of the costs of medical assistance medication, surgeries, X-Ray and laboratory tests to the most vulnerable asylum seekers due to limited funds. Water and Sanitation Tindouf: The maintenance of the water system is carried out by UNHCR s partner SIA (Solidaridad Internacional Andalucia). UNHCR supports the maintenance of the existing water network, water trucks and continues supporting and enhancing the Sahrawi water management system to provide sufficient quantity of water with the best quality. The water system is currently producing 18 litres per person per day. The workshop for the production of family concrete water storage tanks has so far produced 32 water tanks. 4
UNHCR distributes hygiene kits to some 38,000 women and girls of reproductive age covering four months per year and continues supporting the local production of soap and bleach which are distributed to the health, water and education facilities in the five camps, including the administrative area of Rabouni. The new soap making machine, which was inaugurated in February 2015, is operational and the first general soap distribution targeting the whole population is planned for June 2015. Tindouf: it is important to extend the water network and improve the sources of water, which requires a technical study to improve the water system in the camps, as well as to construct two additional boreholes. Tindouf: Urgent needs also include additional hygiene kits for an extra four months per year, strengthening the waste management system, and procurement of two trucks for the transport of waste in the camps. A livelihood strategy to address sustainable initiatives to strengthen the waste management system intends to reduce the environmental pollution and the related health risks. Provision of treated water for the Sahrawi refugee community includes the rehabilitation of the water tower in Dakhla camp (above), and trucking in Laayoune camp (below). UNHCR Shelter and NFIs Tindouf: 2,328 tents procured late December 2014 are scheduled to reach Tindouf camps in mid-may 2015 and will be distributed to the most vulnerable families. These families will benefit from adequate living shelters. The distribution of some 1,600 cooking stoves for Sahrawi refugee families is planned for June 2015. Algiers: UNHCR is providing shelter, a monthly food basket and some NFIs to urban refugee families on the basis of vulnerability assessments. Camp Coordination and Camp Management Sectoral working groups aimed at enhancing coordination of the humanitarian assistance in the camps are in place. Regular joint assessment and evaluation of basic needs of refugees are conducted in the camps. The most recent Age, Gender, and Diversity Mainstreaming assessment was conducted in March 2015 for which the results are being analyzed. Access to Energy Tindouf: 27,000 Sahrawi families received a monthly distribution of gas cylinders enabling the families to cook, as well as to heat and light their dwellings. Community Empowerment and Self-Reliance Tindouf: 5
Sahrawi women are represented in the technical departments of all sectors, such as health and education (61%); social affairs (87%); vocational training and labour (37%), and at least 25% of executive positions. UNHCR supports four women s centres in four camps including training and provision of raw material for sewing workshops. UNHCR also provides support to a library, folk arts festival and cultural activities in all the camps, and workshops on the rights of Sahrawi women and the conservation of Sahrawi cultural heritage. Vocational centres: UNHCR supports three vocational training centres with material, equipment and incentives to teachers and staff. The vocational training in 2014 focused on carpentry, mechanics, and electricity in which 450 Saharawi refugee youth were enrolled. The goal for 2015 is to train an additional 450 youth. Additionally, training was provided for the vocational centre staff on teaching methodologies and administrative management. Provision of toolkits: At the end of the vocational training, the 450 graduates each received toolkits in order to facilitate income generating activities and/or self-employment in their chosen fields. Women s centres: UNHCR supports four women s centres through training and raw materials for sewing, computer skills and language studies. Economic incentives: UNHCR provides economic incentives for about 2,800 staff in the areas of education and vocational training, health, WASH, and legal services. Soap workshop: Currently the soap workshop covers the needs for schools, hospitals and families. The aim is to expand the production capacity of the workshop to include commercial sale in order to improve its sustainability, achieve income generation and expand employment opportunities. UNHCR needs to conduct a market study in order to contextualize the UNHCR livelihood strategy in the camps near Tindouf, assess and map the capacity of refugees to carry out projects; strengthen existing training and production centres, strengthen the existing financial system (through grants and credits); and implement a pilot enterprise for soap production, gardening and poultry farm. There are ongoing efforts made by UNHCR in the camps to implement small-scale income generating activities to supplement food. However, these projects do not guarantee self-reliance. Durable Solutions Algiers: In July 2014, the Office started the review of 130 refugee cases to determine the most appropriate durable solution for the refugees. In early 2015, four refugees departed for resettlement to France and the USA and 15 are currently being considered for resettlement in the USA. Logistics Livelihood activities in Laayoune refugee camp, near Tindouf. UNHCR UNHCR, through its partner Croissant Rouge Algérien (CRA) is ensuring the delivery of food and non-food items for the Sahrawi refugees from Oran port to Tindouf. This includes all customs clearances and procedures. Assistance provided to Sahrawi refugees living in remote and isolated areas requires heavy logistical efforts in terms of transport. A fleet of trucks (for food and non-food aid), vehicles and ambulances are in high demand to meet the needs of refugees. Regular maintenance and repairs are needed for the fleet to be fully operational. Water tankers, ambulances, light vehicles and garbage collection truck fleets are repaired and maintained at the main mechanical workshop managed by UNHCR s partner Triangle Generation Humanitaire (TGH). Daily 6
maintenance of the newly procured water tankers is done at regional mechanical workshops located in Laayoune and Boujdour camps. Both camps rely 100 per cent on water trucking. TGH also maintains and repairs 50 generators used in public institutions. Working in partnership UNHCR works with 11 partners in Algiers and Tindouf. UNHCR s overall government focal point is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Division for Human Rights, Social Development and Cultural, Scientific and Technical Affairs. UNHCR also works closely with the Bureau for Refugees and Stateless Persons (BAPRA), which is under the Division of the Legal and Consular Affairs of the same Ministry. UNHCR collaborates with other UN agencies supporting the Sahrawi refugee programmes in Tindouf including WFP in food assistance, and UNICEF in health and education and youth activities. FINANCIAL INFORMATION Total recorded contributions for the operation amount to some US$ 6.8 million. Funding received (in million USD) USA 4.8 UNHCR is grateful for the critical support provided by donors who have contributed to this operation as well as those who have contributed to UNHCR programmes with unearmarked and broadly earmarked funds. EU Sweden 1.7 0.3 Contacts: Russell Fraser, External Relations Officer, Tindouf Sub-Office, fraser@unhcr.org, Cell +213 661 278 876 7