Sahrawi children spend summer with host families in Spain

In early July, 207 Sahrawi children aged 9‑12 arrived at Madrid‑Barajas and were transferred to host families across 59 municipalities in Extremadura, where they will stay up to two months away from the extreme heat of the Tinduf refugee camps in Algeria. They receive medical check‑ups, balanced meals and a programme of sports, cultural and language activities.

At the same time, Galicia is preparing to host roughly 280 children under the same Vacaciones en Paz initiative, the largest number for any Spanish region this summer. The effort is organised by NGOs such as Solidariedade Galega co‑Pobo Saharaui and supported by €100 000 from the Xuntaha, providing host families and opportunities for the children to learn Spanish and improve Arabic.

The programme, running for more than three decades, continues despite recent diplomatic tensions between Spain and Morocco over Western Sahara. Since its start, thousands of Sahrawi minors have been placed with Spanish families, gaining health care, education and a break from camp conditions.