EU aid to the Saharawi refugee population

31.3.2015

Question for written answer E-005464-15
to the Commission
Rule 130
Lola Sánchez Caldentey (GUE/NGL)

OLAF has pointed out that corruption and aid embezzlement need to be investigated and stopped. The Commission has already taken measures to address the findings documented in the OLAF report, which date back more than a decade. One of those measures was to downsize aid, which is having severe consequences for the already vulnerable Saharawi refugee population, who have ended up in a dire situation for which they are not themselves responsible.

On 25 February 2015 the World Food Programme (WFP) and other UN agencies (UNHCR and Unicef) appealed to donors to support the food needs of the Saharawi refugees, as there is insufficient funding to cover their needs in the second half of this year.

Is the European Union going to respond to the WFP’s appeal, and will increasing aid to the Saharawi refugees be considered?