Western Sahara
30 Years in the Desert
In 1975 when their country was invaded from both sides by Morocco and Mauritania, many thousands of Saharawis fled over 700 miles until they finally found refuge in the desert of Algeria. When they arrived, many were badly injured from the fighting and the harsh journey through the desert. Driven from their homes with aerial bombardments of napalm that left many with disfiguring burns, they had little food or medicine and many were dying each day, especially children.
Women and education
While many men were fighting on the front lines of the war, the Saharawi women were left to set up the camps in the desert. They created day care centres, schools and clinics and formed committees for health, education and childcare. Women today still run the day-to-day life of the camps and they have helped to cement the important place which education holds in Saharawi society. Only 22 years ago, their people were amongst the least educated in Africa while today they have achieved a literacy rate of 95% – the highest on the continent.
Women have a literacy rate of 90% and there are women’s schools in the camps for training in administration and education. In 1976, the National Union of Saharawi Women (UNMS) was founded to promote women’s participation in decision-making and it is hoped that this will ensure they maintain this high standing after independence.
The Saharawi government in exile
The Saharawi practise a very tolerant form of Islam and their government in exile, the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), guarantees freedom of religion. The SADR has been officially recognised by more than 60 states, including most recently South Africa. The SADR is also a member of the African Union – Morocco resigned in protest when Western Sahara joined the group. Tough conditions
Despite their impressive efforts to provide for their own people in a difficult situation, the Saharawi in the desert refugee camps are almost completely dependent on international aid for most basic necessities. Their food is prepared from aid rations and consists mainly of rice, pasta and beans. Only occasionally can families afford to buy vegetables to supplement their children’s diets. Most estimates suggest that approximately 40% of the children in the camps are chronically malnourished and many therefore suffer from various health problems. The elderly, as well, are vulnerable to illness and the camps have few medical resources. Medicines are lacking and doctors arrive from Europe to perform serious operations only a few times a year. Though the Saharawis have managed to create small gardens in each camp, the vegetables grown there are almost entirely for use in the hospitals and can only rarely be distributed in the communities.
Championing Saharawi society
"They will tell you that they have never resorted to terror, that they never will resort to terror. They will tell you that they want to form a society which will be at peace with all nations including Israel....Isn’t that a society that we should be championing?...from a strictly human-rights standpoint and from the standpoint of the right of all people to self-determination, the answer to your question is yes."
- excerpt from an interview with James Baker, former UN Special Envoy to Western Sahara
Triumph over adversity
In the 30 years since they first arrived at these camps, little has changed in the lives of the Saharawi people. They still suffer cold winter nights with temperatures below freezing, summer days with up to 55-degree heat and dust storms that can last for days. Their only water comes from underground and must be distributed through elaborate networks to reach the camps. Yet despite this hardship, the Saharawis have used their scarce resources to develop a strong, well-educated community that deserves respect for its basic right to self-determination. The Saharawis have suffered outside their homeland for three decades. 30 Years is Enough – sign up to War on Want’s campaign and support the people of Western Sahara in their struggle for independence.
While many men were fighting on the front lines of the war, the Saharawi women were left to set up the camps in the desert. They created day care centres, schools and clinics and formed committees for health, education and childcare. Women today still run the day-to-day life of the camps and they have helped to cement the important place which education holds in Saharawi society. Only 22 years ago, their people were amongst the least educated in Africa while today they have achieved a literacy rate of 95% – the highest on the continent.
| The Saharawis living in the camps have a literacy rate of 95%, the highest in Africa. | There are primary schools in each camp and older children board at the two secondary schools in the region. Gifted students may be offered places for further schooling in Cuba, Algeria, Spain or Italy and some then go on to complete university degrees abroad. |
The Saharawi practise a very tolerant form of Islam and their government in exile, the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), guarantees freedom of religion. The SADR has been officially recognised by more than 60 states, including most recently South Africa. The SADR is also a member of the African Union – Morocco resigned in protest when Western Sahara joined the group. Tough conditions
Despite their impressive efforts to provide for their own people in a difficult situation, the Saharawi in the desert refugee camps are almost completely dependent on international aid for most basic necessities. Their food is prepared from aid rations and consists mainly of rice, pasta and beans. Only occasionally can families afford to buy vegetables to supplement their children’s diets. Most estimates suggest that approximately 40% of the children in the camps are chronically malnourished and many therefore suffer from various health problems. The elderly, as well, are vulnerable to illness and the camps have few medical resources. Medicines are lacking and doctors arrive from Europe to perform serious operations only a few times a year. Though the Saharawis have managed to create small gardens in each camp, the vegetables grown there are almost entirely for use in the hospitals and can only rarely be distributed in the communities.
"They will tell you that they have never resorted to terror, that they never will resort to terror. They will tell you that they want to form a society which will be at peace with all nations including Israel....Isn’t that a society that we should be championing?...from a strictly human-rights standpoint and from the standpoint of the right of all people to self-determination, the answer to your question is yes."
- excerpt from an interview with James Baker, former UN Special Envoy to Western Sahara
Triumph over adversity
In the 30 years since they first arrived at these camps, little has changed in the lives of the Saharawi people. They still suffer cold winter nights with temperatures below freezing, summer days with up to 55-degree heat and dust storms that can last for days. Their only water comes from underground and must be distributed through elaborate networks to reach the camps. Yet despite this hardship, the Saharawis have used their scarce resources to develop a strong, well-educated community that deserves respect for its basic right to self-determination. The Saharawis have suffered outside their homeland for three decades. 30 Years is Enough – sign up to War on Want’s campaign and support the people of Western Sahara in their struggle for independence.
 |  | Articles and Further Information: Access more articles and information on the crisis in Western Sahara. |
 | | Africa's Last Colony: Find out more about the history of Western Sahara and act now to support the Saharawi in their fight for self-determination. |
 | | Profiting from the Occupation: The profits from Saharawi resources primarily benefit Morocco, particularly those politicians and generals who own much of the industry. |
 | | A State of Seige: Read about Morocco's repressive policies in occupied Western Sahara and send a postcard to the Moroccan embassy. |
 | | Make a donation: Read more about our appeal and how you can help the Saharawi. |
 | | Western Sahara Homepage: Find out more about the people of the Western Sahara and their struggle to return to their homeland. |
