Algeria Takes Care of Migrants: CRA, Honored with Shôken International Prize for Humanitarian Efforts, Provides Healthcare Facilities in Collaboration with UNHCR

BY: Dr. Hana Saada

ALGIERS- In collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Algerian Red Crescent (CRA) has initiated healthcare facilities to cater to the needs of migrants and refugees.

Ibtissem Hamlaoui, President of the Algerian Red Crescent, highlighted the organization’s dedication to humanitarian aid, emphasizing its apolitical stance and avoidance of controversial issues. Speaking at the National Information Forum of the El Moudjahid newspaper, Hamlaoui pointed out Algeria’s unique position as one of the few countries providing comprehensive care for migrants, ensuring access to rights such as healthcare and education.

Hamlaoui stressed the significant cooperation between CRA, UNHCR, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in supporting migrants. She emphasized the distinction between refugees and migrants, stating that while Sahrawis are recognized as refugees, all other migrants receive equal treatment in terms of care and support.

Over the past two years, the CRA has intensified its collaboration with UNHCR and IOM, providing healthcare and education support to migrants. This includes the establishment of accommodation centers across the country, particularly in Adrar, Tamanrasset, and Souk Ahars.

In terms of healthcare, the CRA, in partnership with UNHCR, has established a healthcare center on Blaise Pascal Avenue in Algiers. Staffed with doctors, specialists, sociologists, psychologists, and logistics personnel, the facility offers comprehensive medical services, including consultations, treatment, and medication.

Apart from medical services, migrants can also access clothing, school supplies, mattresses, and other necessities through this center. Hamlaoui stressed the importance of meeting the needs of migrants, highlighting Algeria’s unique provision of free healthcare to migrants and refugees in Africa.

The CRA, operating as a neutral and apolitical NGO without government funding, boasts an extensive network, covering all 58 provinces and over 800 branches at the municipal level, along with hospitals such as CHU Mustapha Pacha and solidarity pharmacies nationwide.

Hamlaoui commended the dedication of the volunteers, whose numbers have increased to over 20,000 in recent years. The organization also provides training to thousands of rescuers and instructors.

Addressing support for needy families, Hamlaoui mentioned assistance provided to monogamous families and those with low incomes. Plans were announced to introduce beneficiary cards with QR codes for aid distribution tracking, along with the launch of solidarity grocery stores and other projects.

Hamlaoui reaffirmed CRA’s role as a humanitarian aid auxiliary to the state, dedicated to assisting those in need and promoting solidarity within Algerian society.

Algerian Red Crescent Honored with International Prize for Humanitarian Efforts

The Algerian Red Crescent (CRA) has been awarded the prestigious International Empress Shôken Prize by the Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) for its outstanding humanitarian efforts both locally and internationally.

The Empress Shôken Fund, managed jointly by the IFRC and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), provides small annual grants to support the peace-time activities of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. These funds are consistent, predictable, and prioritize innovation and learning. Named after Her Majesty Empress Shôken of Japan, one of the founders of the Japanese Red Cross Society, the fund encourages National Societies to explore new and innovative approaches to humanitarian and development issues, generating learning that benefits the entire International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

For the Algerian Red Crescent, this prize will be used to finance the training of 200 rescuers and volunteers in modern methods for an organized and structured emergency response. Speaking at a forum yesterday, the President of the Algerian Red Crescent, Mrs. Ibtissem Hamlaoui, revealed that nearly 20,000 volunteers and volunteers are registered with this non-governmental organization throughout the country.

Hamlaoui paid tribute to the regional and local committees of the Red Crescent and to the donors, thanks to whom, she said, “a qualitative and quantitative leap has been made, never achieved in a month of Ramadan.” She further specified that the humanitarian aid collected for foreign countries reached 3,000 tonnes, including 420 tonnes for Gaza, and “the rest was sent to Turkey, Syria, and Libya.” “We have never reached such a volume of aid. This was made possible thanks to the participation of donors and the work of our volunteers at the committee level,” she said.

About Dzair Tube Media Group

Dzair Tube has firmly established itself as a prominent player among Algerian digital news sites, offering a diverse and enriching content experience. The platform, available in Arabic, French, and English editions, captures the attention of a wide-ranging audience, amassing over half a million daily clicks.

A testament to its commitment to excellence, Dzair Tube received the prestigious President of the Republic’s Award for Professional Journalist in the Electronic Press category on October 22, 2022. This recognition underscores the platform’s unwavering dedication to upholding the highest standards of journalism.

With a significant online presence, Dzair Tube boasts 350,000 subscribers on YouTube, over five million followers on various Facebook pages, and 450,000 subscribers on Instagram. Its digital channel has become a hub for diverse programming, covering news, sports, entertainment, culture, and religion, catering to a broad spectrum of audience preferences.

Equipped with state-of-the-art studios and advanced technology, Dzair Tube’s digital channel has garnered substantial viewership for its varied programs. Hosting interactive discussions with influential figures across different domains, the platform actively fosters public discourse and engagement. Beyond news coverage, Dzair Tube extends its commitment to the production of marketing documentaries, short TV commercials, and high-viewership programs.

The success of the print edition of Dzair Tube’s sports newspaper, “Dzair Sport,” further highlights the platform’s impact, with over 50,000 daily downloads from the official Dzair Tube website.

Honored with the Media Leadership Award from the Minister of Communication, Mohamed Laâgab, Dzair Tube continues to shape the landscape of Algerian digital news, maintaining a position of influence and impact in the media industry.