Campi rifugiati sahrawi – Algeria

The El Aaiun, Awserd, Boujdour, Dakhla and Smara camps are located in one of the most inhospitable places on the planet, the Hamada Desert in the southwest part of Algeria, near the city of Tindouf.
They were established after the mass displacement of the Sahrawi people from Western Sahara (1975/1976) because of territorial revendications from Morocco and Mauritania governments, which resulted in a 16-year war. According to UNHCR, the total number of refugees still living in the camps is 173,000. They live in different neighborhoods, or districts, named after the cities, villages and places in their homeland. Smara is the largest camp, hosting nearly 60,000 people.

The participation of the 20 Sahrawi artists was made possible by Mohamed Sleiman Labat, artist and cultural promoter, who lives and works in the Smara camp.