In the Sahrawi refugee camps in western Algeria the corona virus must not be allowed to break out under any circumstances. Medical care would be no match for the pandemic, as there is hardly enough for everyday emergencies. Our Partner of UJSARIO in Smara and their young people therefore spread vital information, because the Sahrauis only have a chance with prevention.
When a Saharawi family has guests, tea is a must. Traditionally, the drink is poured several times from one drinking glass into the next until a foam is created. This happens in three rounds. Now the Sahrauis have to be meticulous with hygiene here, otherwise the corona virus could be transmitted via the used glasses.
Fortunately, the refugee camps in the west of Algeria have not yet seen corona falls. The borders with Algeria and Mauritania have been closed and traffic between the five Sahrawi camps has been restricted. In Algeria 1900 people have fallen ill with Covid-19, in Mauritania 9 have been reported so far. The number of unreported cases is likely to be much higher.
No health care
The rapid reaction of the Polisario Front - the Sahrawi independence movement and de facto government - prevented the worst from happening. Medical care in the camps is in a desolate state. Speaking to Euronews, the Saharawi doctor Abdala Banani Saaidthat the health personnel only have 600 pairs of gloves and 2000 masks at their disposal. In the refugee camps live about 170,000 people, writes the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). None of the health centres in the Sahrawi refugee centres are prepared for a Covid 19 outbreak, Saaid continued. "Not even the national hospital has respirators."
Prevention is therefore the most important, because it is the only measure against the corona virus. Our partners from the youth organization UJSARIO have therefore started to make hygiene recommendations. For example, with a demo video to make the important tea ritual safe.
The UJSARIO also provide information on how to wash your hands correctly and regularly and how to keep your distance. Young people and staff of the partner organisation have hung up and distributed posters in the neighbourhoods with the most important information. In this way, most people know about the danger and can protect themselves accordingly. Information is distributed via the social media and on the radio, and the population is educated about the importance of hygiene.
Even if the distance rules are observed, guests and hosts often come into contact with the carpets. In Sahrawi culture, a lot of things happen on the floor: The enjoyment of tea, eating, playing or sitting together. So a hygiene measure is to put the carpets in the sun and dry air. It is not yet known exactly whether this will kill the corona virus. The camps in the middle of the Sahara lack water for intensive carpet washing. The UV rays of the sun are therefore better than nothing.
A gateway remains
The outbreak of corona virus remains a threat to the Sahrawi people, who remain entirely dependent on UNHCR aid. At the moment, the goods are still being delivered, our partners on the ground report. This unavoidable contact to the outside world remains a small gateway for the corona virus. This is why terre des hommes schweiz supports UJSARIO in Smara in its awareness-raising work, because prevention is the only way to give the Sahrauis a chance against the corona virus.
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Pictures: UJSARIO
