The Algerian government has undertaken urgent preparations to deal with potential natural disasters, including a comprehensive review of major hazard laws.
This plan is in response to concerns following the earthquake in Morocco and the recent floods in Libya.
According to press reports, the legal review includes an “Alert Plan for Managing and Confronting Major Risks.”
Five ministries are responsible for its implementation, which includes launching a digital platform in all 58 provinces of the country to monitor climate changes in each region and inform public authorities of any potential threats to the area and its residents.
The digital platform operates using an “Early Warning System” to alert about hazards resulting from climate changes, such as weather disturbances that can lead to floods, landslides, and soil erosion.
Collaboration with meteorological services is part of this effort, providing early warnings about temperature-related risks, particularly during the summer, such as forest fires.
The plan also involves early warnings in the winter for strong winds and the potential formation of Mediterranean hurricanes.
The “plan” is divided into three main stages for risk management.
The first stage focuses on “precautionary measures for early warning” before a disaster occurs, relying on specialized and clear weather reports to assess the magnitude of risks in coordination with relevant authorities, including meteorological services and risk assessment centers.
The second stage involves “mobilizing human and material resources to reduce the size of the disaster,” preparing equipment for disaster response and recruiting personnel trained in rescue and rapid intervention.
The third stage is called “recovery and damage reduction, and the enumeration of those affected,” involving the preparation of a national plan for rebuilding and caring for the injured.
In the field, municipalities along the Mediterranean coast and nearby areas have recruited hundreds of workers to clean up waterways and valleys, removing waste and scattered tree debris to prevent sewer blockages in anticipation of autumn rains.
A large workshop has also been launched to repair sewage channels in all 1,541 municipalities in the country, with the Ministry of Public Works and the Ministry of Water Resources actively involved in overseeing this proactive initiative.
