This photo-essay focuses on the strength of Saharawi women who fled in exile to Algeria after the Western Sahara occupation by Morocco forces in 1975.

After more than 35 years in exile, nearly 200.0000 refugees are struggling to survive in this inhospitable part of the Great Desert with over 80% being women and children. Families were left divided after the Moroccans built up a wall in Western Sahara from North to South surrounded by landmines. The extreme environmental conditions make life incredibly difficult with temperatures passing 50 degrees in summer and frequent sand storms. The lack of food, water and medicines made them to rely on international humanitarian aid.

The task of creating a new life in exile fell to the women. They formed an organized camps structure with an efficient distribution of aids developing committees, systems for health care and education playing an active role in the political process.In addition to that women have to raise the family with an average between four to six children at the age of thirty-five.