Algeria: Volunteers support families displaced by wildfires

Volunteers have mobilised to provide essential supplies, including water, bread and milk, to families displaced by wildfires in Jijel province, northeastern Algeria, according to Africa News via AP on August 30th. 

The wildfire victims include residents from the municipalities of Bordj Tahar and Djemma Beni Habibi, who are currently taking shelter in schools, where aid is being collected and distributed.

There are approximately 800 displaced residents who are taking shelter, and medical teams are available to attend to them.  

Recent wildfires in the Jijel province have taken 12 lives, and the victims were buried on August 28th, with Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb in attendance. 

Algeria has suffered a summer of severe wildfire activity, with July alone accounting for 2,000 wildfires. 

On July 21st, 6 people were killed as fires intensified amid intense heatwaves and strong winds, with 11 more dead on July 22nd in a fire at an orphanage on the periphery of Algiers, claiming the lives of both children and staff. 

Authorities have been working to contain the spread and evacuate residents from affected areas, deploying Algerian Civil Protection units to help do so. 

Additionally, the civil defence mobilised over 19,000 personnel, 700 trucks, six helicopters, and 12 water-bombing aircraft to combat the forest fires. 

Firefighting efforts continued for weeks. Only in late July did authorities announce that, after a 20-day operation involving emergency services, Algeria’s major wildfires had been extinguished. 

Beyond wildfires, the intense heat has also caused widespread disruption that has placed a strain on Algeria’s infrastructure. For instance, a heatwave contributed to major power outages across 16 wilayas (regions) on July 18th. 

The current climate crisis has also prompted inquiries from officials over how some of the fires began. On July 23rd, 4 suspects were arrested by Algerian authorities over allegations of deliberately starting wildfires. 

These arrests happened against the backdrop of the ongoing environmental disaster that Algerian authorities and emergency services have continued to tackle. 

As of August 29th, authorities reported 159 fires across the country, 90 of which had been extinguished and 69 remain active. 

These volunteers’ services help mitigate the suffering and hardship residents in Jijel province face as they cope with the devastating impact of these wildfires, including the loss of loved ones and homes. 

Africa News via AP, Maghrebi.org