OCHA Situation Report No. 1
Algeria  - Floods
11 November 2001


Situation:

1.  Beginning on the evening of 9 November 2001, heavy rains and winds
have affected several areas of Northern and Western Algeria, creating a
disaster situation of large proportions, with loss of life and significant
material damages.

2. It is estimated that for Algiers alone, 100 millimeters of rain fell
over a 24 hour period, which is higher than the monthly average for the
capital city at his time of the year.

3. As of 11 November at mid-day, rain and winds are continuing, and they
are expected to continue for another 48 hours, with heavy rainfall and
winds in excess of 120 Km. per hour anticipated..

4. Damage resulted from the heavy rains and the intensity of the winds but
also from flash floods and mudslides.  The situation was particularly
aggravated because of the hilly contour of the affected areas.

5.  Approximately 300 persons have been reported killed.


Affected Areas:

6.  In the Northern areas of ALGERIA, the affected areas are ALGIERS (the
worst hit area in the country), TIPAZA, BOUMERDES and TIZI-OUZOU.
Western areas that were hit are ORAN, TLEMCEN, CHLEF, MASCARA, AIN
TEMOUCHENT and SIDI BELABBES.  In the capital city, the worst affected
zones are OUED KORAISH and BAB EL OUED.  Both areas have steep downhill
zones and ancient housing infrastructure.  Other zones of ALGIERS where
the disaster had adverse effects are TELEMLY, DIDOUCHE and MOURAD where
deaths have been reported.


Number of Victims and Affected Population:

7.  According to the figures released by the Ministry of the Interior on
the evening of 10 November, the number of victims killed (total) reaches
296 (of which 287 in ALGIERS), and the number of persons injured
reaches.294 in ALGIERS (no figures yet for other areas).

8.  Figures provided by the national Civil Protection agency, concerning
the adversely affected population directly observed by agency personnel,
put the number of dead at 270 persons countrywide..

9. The figure which is being used provisionally for the number of people
who were directly affected by the disaster (homes lost, property damaged,
etc.) is of 4,000 families nationally (1,500 in ALGIERS alone) or
approximately 20,000 to 25,000 persons.


Impact of the Disaster on the Infrastructure:

10.  Severe damage has been inflicted on roads, housing, schools, ports,
vehicles and equipment.  In the worst hit areas of ALGIERS, for instance,
water, electricity and gas supplies have been cut.  Several houses have
been evacuated, for fear of landslides or mudslides.

11.  In the course of the day on 10 November, because of the impact of the
disaster on the road networks, ALGIERS was literally paralyzed with
traffic jams.  The city still functions precariously, because of the
exceptional conditions which have accompanied the disaster.


National response to the disaster situation:

12.  The national disaster plan (ORSEC plan) has been activated by the
Government as of 10 November.  Human and material resources have been
mobilized on a large scale for the rescue operations.  These are still
underway in different parts of the country.

13.  The main structures involved in this disaster response process are:
the national Civil Protection Agency, the military, the Red Crescent
Society, health and sanitation workers and the security forces.  As
reported in the media, different sectors of Civil Society have been
playing a direct role in the rescue operations and in providing temporary
shelter to the affected population groups.

14.  An emergency meeting of the Cabinet has been convened in the morning
of 11 November under the aegis of the Prime Minister.

15.  The Government has not yet made a formal request to the UN for
international assistance. The UN Resident Coordinator's Office in Algiers
has, meanwhile, informed the Government, through the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, of its readiness to support emergency relief coordination
efforts.

16.  To enhance its preparedness for response, if required, the OCHA has
issued an alert to its UNDAC team members worldwide.


17.  The latest information from Algiers is that the Government has
established a "Cellule de Crise" headed by Ambassador MEGHAR, who is also
the Director of the Division of Consular Affairs at the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs.

18.  Although the needs have not yet been quantified the urgent
requirements for a severely distressed population of 4,500 families are as
follows:

"needs of the affected population as they have been identified by the
Government of Algeria, for the target group of 4,500 affected families:

  - BLANKETS
  - WINTER TENTS
  - MEDICAL KITS
  - WATER PURIFIERS
  - WATER PUMPS
  - (portable) CHAIN SAWS "

Further precision is expected in a subsequent Situation Report.


Telephone: +41-22-91712 34
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers:
  Mr. Marcel Mikala   Direct Tel. +41-22-917 1729
  Mr. Max Bonnel   Direct Tel. +41 22 917  1457

Press contact:
  (GVA)  Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, direct Tel. +41-22-917 26 56
  (NYC)  Ms. Phyllis Lee, direct Tel. +1-212-963 48 32


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