Algiers, October 18, 2025 – The Algerian Red Crescent (ARC) has issued a statement addressing a widely circulated video on social media featuring a young woman formerly residing at the ARC’s children’s village in Dely Ibrahim.
The ARC’s statement emphasizes that, legally, the children’s village is designated solely for minors. “Legally, we are only authorized to house minors, and therefore, we cannot legally accommodate adults,” the statement clarified.
However, the ARC noted that they have, in practice, extended accommodation to numerous young men and women beyond the legal age limit, including the individual in question, who was supported until the age of 26. The organization says it strives to secure employment opportunities for these individuals and provide ongoing support even after they leave the village.
According to the statement, the young woman was eventually provided with rented accommodation alongside other women over the age of 25. “Due to non-compliance with the village’s internal regulations, a house was rented for her and other young women over 25. However, disagreements arose, leading to her eviction. She was then re-accommodated, but subsequently left the village and her employment without notice,” the ARC explained.
The statement further elaborated on the challenges of housing individuals beyond the legal age, while affirming its commitment to providing employment opportunities and covering the first year’s rent, and sometimes up to two years, after their departure.
The ARC also revealed that the woman in the video has family members who, for their own reasons, have declined to provide her with accommodation.
The presence of young adults exceeding the age of majority, the ARC argues, and their failure to respect internal regulations, undermines the well-being and safety of the remaining children within the village, whose welfare remains the organization’s top priority.
The Algerian Red Crescent stressed that it has acted with “flexibility, humanity, and tolerance beyond what the law requires, to ensure that no young woman is left without dignified alternative housing. However, it is regrettable that this understanding is met with irresponsible behavior and distortion of the facts on social media.”
The ARC asserts that “what is presented in the video does not reflect the truth, and that the institution has respected the law and adhered to humanitarian values in all stages of caring for the individual. The sole objective of the village is to protect minor children and ensure a safe environment for them.”
The Algerian Red Crescent reserves the right to pursue legal action against any defamation of the organization’s reputation.
