Algeria Hailed as Humanitarian Model in Refugee Care by IOM
ALGIERS (APS) – The International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) representative in Algeria, Ms. Lalini Veerassamy, praised Algeria’s significant efforts in caring for refugees, particularly in the medical field, describing the country as a “living model of humanity,” according to a statement issued Wednesday by the Algerian Ministry of Health.
The statement said that during her meeting with Algerian Minister of Health Abdelhak Saihi, Ms. Veerassamy expressed her appreciation for Algeria’s efforts in providing refugee care, especially health services. She emphasized that Algeria stands as “a living example of humanity,” commending the effective measures taken to provide medical care to individuals of various nationalities.
The meeting, held Tuesday evening at the ministry’s headquarters in the presence of senior officials from the central administration, served as an important opportunity to review existing cooperation programs between the Health Ministry and the IOM. Discussions also focused on ways to strengthen and expand this partnership to improve healthcare services for refugees.
On the occasion, Minister Saihi presented a comprehensive overview of Algeria’s efforts to ensure healthcare for refugees, stating that Algeria provides substantial logistical and humanitarian support to guarantee access to treatment and basic medical services at its health institutions for all refugees residing in the country.
In the same context, the minister stressed the importance of establishing an international center for vaccination and combating tropical diseases in Algeria, which would offer essential health services, including immunization and treatment of tropical illnesses, particularly for countries in the Sahel region.
In this regard, the IOM representative proposed the possibility of offering logistical and medical support from the organization to help curb the spread of infectious diseases among refugees and reduce the risk of outbreaks, affirming the IOM’s readiness to enhance cooperation in the health sector.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Minister Saihi reaffirmed Algeria’s willingness to work with international organizations in this field, welcoming this humanitarian approach aimed at improving refugee conditions and providing them with healthcare in the spirit of international solidarity.
Both sides agreed to establish a joint working group to prepare a bilateral memorandum of understanding, which will be signed as soon as possible to formalize and strengthen the partnership between Algeria and the IOM in health and humanitarian care.
