Attachments
Description of the Event
Date of event
24-07-2023
What happened, where and when?
Around 35 wildfires have been rapidly spreading across the northeastern region of Algeria in more than 11 regions since July 24th, causing extensive devastation. The disaster had a profound impact on 6,000 families, with the Algerian Government reporting 34 confirmed deaths. The affected population heavily relies on crops and livestock, both of which have been severely impacted by the wildfires, resulting in further hardships for the communities. Many homes have been reduced to ashes, leaving families displaced and vulnerable. The dire situation has also affected the health of the population, as the flames and smoke have led to thousands of injuries. The magnitude of the disaster requires urgent attention and support to address the immediate needs of those affected. However, the prevailing weather conditions remain a cause for concern. With temperatures exceeding 45 degrees Celsius and wind speeds exceeding 50 km/h on the Tunisian borders, coupled with low humidity, the conditions were suitable for the expansion and intensification of the wildfires.
Amidst this dire situation, the National Society had been actively engaged in response efforts for several months, successfully completing a significant portion of the distribution operations. Understanding the evolving needs, the National Society had formally requested critical changes from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), aligning with the adjustments previously outlined.
Scope and Scale
Algeria had been exposed to heat waves for over 60 days, with extreme weather patterns with temperatures exceeding 45°C in June and 50°C in July. The country was expected to witness local fires because of the weather conditions and the severe summer season. Additional factors have turned local fires into uncontrollable wildfires in the 3rd week of July.
The wildfires have reached several wilayas of the northeast, the most affected being: Bejaïa, Skikda, Tizi ouzou, Bouira, Jijel, Boumerdes. A total of 30,000 people were affected by the wildfires. So far, at least 34 deaths have been registered by the Algerian government and more than 700 people have been injured.
Homes, livestock, and crops were heavily affected, which directly impacted the well-being of the population, elderly people, and children. The national society was one of the first responders to the event, deploying its teams to conduct assessments of the magnitude of the effects of this event.
A total of 3,880 people were provided shelter in the evacuation centers while the rest of the people were provided with tents by the national society or decided to relocate to stay with relatives. The fires had a significant impact on the livelihoods of the impacted population.