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refugee-initiated projects take place. The above-mentioned Moringa oleifera plantations in the
Hammada desert is one example, supported by several non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
including Vétérinaires Sans Frontières (VSF) Italy and Africa ’70. This leguminous source, able to
grow in extremely dry conditions, has wide-ranging benefits for both human and animal nutrition,
being very rich in proteins, vitamin C, iron and other macro and micronutrients, and offers a
sustainable solution for diet diversification and enrichment. The presence of a large number of
animals needs a local veterinary system to ensure the best possible animal and human health. Since
1996, a Veterinary Directorate, now composed of 24 Saharawi operators in the camps, has been
supervising slaughter procedures, surveying the dominant zoonoses, 4 giving clinical assistance to
smallholders, raising awareness of good animal management practices and working on the
prevention of infectious diseases. Resources may be limited but the desire among NGOs and
refugees alike to stretch capacities and maximize resources is strong. Brucellosis, tuberculosis,
Rift Valley fever, echinoccosis, rabies and toxoplasmosis are some of the major zoonoses, which
must be addressed in a collaborative effort by
veterinarians and medical NGOs providing
health care. Alongside the veterinary
infrastructure, a hospital and dispensary
infrastructure with six health centres supports
the human population of the refugee camps.
Disease associated with animals is not limited to
livestock; pets can also be a source of infection,
although these animals are mainly free-roaming
cats and dogs rather than fully domesticated
animals. Recent studies conducted with Sahrawi
people and cats have shown high incidences of
antibodies specific to the parasite that causes toxoplasmosis, in both people and cats. Approaches
such as Moringa production benefit both human and animal populations and offer a holistic
response to exceptional circumstances such as those of the Sahrawi refugee camps. A review of the
food basket needs to take livestock challenges into consideration, and the camp health systems need
to accommodate both human and animal health, in order to maximize limited resources and
stimulate effective collaboration between different NGOs, as well as between the NGOs and
refugees themselves. The Sahrawi refugee camps are an exceptional case, and the roles of humans
and animals within refugee camps as a broader topic merits further research.

By courtesy of Veterinari Senza Frontiere
(https://www.fmreview.org/sites/fmr/files/FMRdownloads/en/economies/humans-animals-camps.pdf)

Written by :
Dr. Giorgia ANGELONI (Veterinari Senza Frontiere Italia)
and Vice-president, VSF International Network
&
Dr. Jennifer CARR
PhD Candidate, University of Glasgow
______________________________________________
1. UNHCR (2018) Operational Update: Algeria, 1 January–31 March 2018 http://bit.ly/UNHCR‐Algeria‐2018
2. Wilson A (2014) ‘Ambiguities of space and control: when refugee camp and nomadic encampment meet’, Nomadic Peoples 18 (1): 38–60. DOI:
10.3197/np.2014.180104
3. WFP (2017) WFP Algeria Country Brief, August 2017 http://bit.ly/WFP‐Algeria‐2017
4. Zoonoses are diseases which can be transmitted to humans fromanimals.

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