Spain is continuing its solidarity programme Vacaciones en Paz this summer: according to associations and consistent reports, including Europa Press, around 2,800 to 3,000 minors from the Sahrawi refugee camps near Tinduf are staying temporarily with host families in Spain in 2026. A Boletín Oficial del Estado published in the Resolución de 3 de junio de 2026 clarifies the procedures for issuing temporary residence permits and the running of the programme.
Reports of arrivals and reception from different regions confirm that the programme is being implemented nationwide. For example, groups of children were welcomed in Gran Canaria ; similar numbers have been reported from Cantabria . Local associations point to recurring aims: medical check-ups, better nutrition, a break from the summer heat in the Algerian desert, and an opportunity for personal exchange with host families.
The programme has existed since the late 1970s and is largely organised in Spain by the Asociaciones de Amigos del Pueblo Saharaui . Municipalities and civil society organisations coordinate accommodation, leisure activities and support for the minors. According to the available reports, this year’s participant numbers are in line with the recent trend, which, despite fluctuations, has remained close to 3,000 children.
The government guidelines published in June set out responsibilities and the framework for the programme. Under these rules, the Delegaciones del Gobierno, are responsible for assessing applications and issuing temporary residence permits. The rules cover, among other things, the required documentation, the role of host families during the stay, health protection and the organised return of participants at the end of the programme. This standardises procedures that are carried out in practice through regional and local structures.
Organisations also report challenges: in some provinces there are fewer host families available, making planning more difficult and affecting how the children are distributed among participating towns and cities. The pressure on voluntary organisations – for example, with registration, medical follow-up and logistics – remains a recurring issue.
Beyond its immediate humanitarian benefits, Vacaciones en Paz has symbolic significance for relations between Spanish civil society and the Sahrawi exile community. According to those involved, the programme’s scale and duration in future years will depend both on political conditions and on the commitment of local networks and families.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).