The Government of Croatia has made its first-ever contribution to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Algeria, providing €70,000 (US$82,000) to support Sahrawi refugees. The funding will enable WFP to deliver monthly life-saving food assistance to more than 133,000 vulnerable people living in camps near Tindouf, a region that has hosted Sahrawi refugees since 1975. This contribution arrives at a crucial moment as funding gaps threaten ongoing assistance for one of the world’s most protracted refugee crises.
In the Tindouf camps, over 80 percent of the population depends entirely on humanitarian aid to meet basic food needs. WFP, in partnership with the Algerian Red Crescent, distributes monthly food rations tailored to nutritional requirements. Programs increasingly include Social Behaviour Change (SBC) initiatives to address malnutrition among children and pregnant women while promoting improved nutrition practices across the community.
Aline Rumonge, WFP Representative and Country Director in Algeria, expressed gratitude to Croatia for its support, noting that the contribution strengthens the efficiency and reach of food assistance operations. Croatian Ambassador to Algeria, Ilija Želalić, emphasized that the donation reflects the strong relationship between the Croatian government and WFP and expressed hope for continued and expanded cooperation in the future.
In 2025, WFP provided over 22,000 metric tonnes of food to the camps, reaching 133,000 beneficiaries. Support included monthly cash-based transfers to 8,600 pregnant and breastfeeding women to improve dietary diversity and reduce anemia, as well as specialized nutritious food to prevent and treat moderate acute malnutrition among 15,000 children under five.
WFP Algeria continues to expand collaboration with both traditional and emerging government donors to sustain its long-term operations. Since 1986, WFP has coordinated closely with national and international partners to ensure that food assistance reaches those most in need, providing vital support to Sahrawi refugees in Algeria.
