Algeria with its population of 43.85 million (2020) has seen much
conflict since its fight for independence from France in 1962,
a war that saw more than a million of its population killed.
Since then it has continued to witness much conflict not least
between government forces and Islamic militants in the 1990s
and it continues to suffer attacks from the al-Qaeda in the Maghreb group. As a major exporter of
oil and gas on the doorstep of Europe, Algeria is in 91st place out of 189 countries and territories in 2019
when ranked in terms of life expectancy, literacy, access to
knowledge and the living standards of a country putting it
above other Arab states and above average world development
although outside coastal areas where most of the population
reside, a third of the child population live in poverty.
As such, unlike many other countries in
Africa, there is little need for child sponsor programs in Algeria, however there remain
real issues regarding the emotional wellbeing of children, many of whom have grown up in the aftermath of a
civil conflict that lasted more than a decade during which some
100,000 lost their lives. There is also
the issue of around 165,000 Saharawis from the Western Sahara living in semi autonomous refugee camps in Algeria, completely
dependent on foreign aid. The United Nations reports that 10% of the children
there (below) suffer from acute malnourishment and the camps have limited access to safe
water being desert based. Matters have been compounded in recent years with flash rains and floods that have
engulfed the camps.
Algeria has very few street children, less than a thousand, however, of those children living on the
streets, most cite family violence as the reason whilst others explain their
decision to leave home being down to poor housing with Algeria having a chronic housing problem with one of the highest house
occupancy rates in the world with many children living in cramped conditions
particularly in urban areas, weak social and education
services, unemployment and poverty. Some children have also stated that
television has made them aware that a better life is available if it is searched
for. You can help when you sponsor a
child in Algeria.
Child Sponsor Algeria: SOS Children's Villages
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Child Sponsor Algeria: Ecouter L'Enfant
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