Home News The Slovak Republic Supported UNHCR’s Humanitarian Response for Sahrawi Refugees in Algeria
Through SlovakAid, the Slovak Republic provided a financial contribution of EUR 70,000 to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to support humanitarian assistance for Sahrawi refugees living in camps near the city of Tindouf in Algeria.
Sahrawi refugees have been living in five camps in south-western Algeria for more than four decades. This represents one of the world’s longest-standing refugee situations, characterized by prolonged displacement, extreme climatic conditions, and a high level of dependence on humanitarian aid. Basic living conditions in the camps have been continuously undermined by chronic underfunding of humanitarian activities.
The contribution from the Slovak Republic is intended to support the provision of refugees’ basic needs, particularly in the areas of health care, access to safe drinking water and sanitation, education, and the protection of vulnerable groups. Assistance is delivered through UNHCR programmes focused on life-saving services, strengthening community-based capacities, and supporting the most vulnerable households.
According to UNHCR’s humanitarian planning for Algeria, the situation in the Tindouf camps remains critical, especially in the sectors of health care, nutrition, hygiene, and education, with persistent systemic challenges affecting access to essential services. In cooperation with its partners, UNHCR ensures the continuity of health services, support for primary education, protection of women and children, and activities aimed at preventing further deterioration of living conditions.
The financial contribution supports the collective efforts of the international community to respond to the protracted refugee crisis and at the same time strengthens Slovakia’s multilateral cooperation with the United Nations and the host country, Algeria, in the field of humanitarian and development assistance.
This support also reflects Slovakia’s solidarity with refugees whose living conditions have been long affected by conflict and forced displacement, and reaffirms the country’s commitment to addressing global humanitarian challenges through international partnerships.
More information on the humanitarian situation of Sahrawi refugees and the Sahrawi Refugee Response Plan (SRRP) 2026–2027 – Solidarity in Action, which sets priorities in the areas of health care, education, access to water, and community resilience, is available on the official United Nations Algeria website.