B4-0392, 0397 and 0421/94

Resolution on the flood victims in the Sahrawi refugee camps

The European Parliament,

A.whereas torrential rains have hit the Saharan refugee camps in Southern Algeria for the second time in two weeks; whereas these rains are extremely rare, occurring only two or three times a century,

B.whereas the floods have caused substantial damage to schools, hospitals, dispensaries and accommodation; whereas sand brick walls, which provide protection against desert winds but not against torrential rains, have been swept away and there are large gashes in remaining structures; whereas 20,000 residents have been made homeless,

C.whereas there is a desperate need for shelter, clothing, medicines, electricity generators and fuel within the camps which are home to 200,000 Sahrawis,

D.having regard to the initial aid to the victims released by the European Union,

1.Expresses its solidarity with the disaster victims;

2.Draws the Union's attention to the scale of the disaster and urges it to consider the economic and social situation of the camps;

3.Calls on the Commission to make an immediate and effective contribution to repairing the damage, granting emergency aid to the homeless and normalising the situation;

4.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council and the representatives of the Sahrawi people.