Algeria Establishes National Crisis Unit to Monitor Wildfires Across the Country

Algerian authorities have established a national crisis unit to closely monitor the development of forest fires affecting several provinces across the country and coordinate ongoing emergency operations.

The unit was set up at the headquarters of the Ministry of the Interior, Local Authorities and Transport under the supervision of the ministry’s Secretary-General, Mahfoud Benflis, according to an official statement.

The initiative comes as Algeria continues to face multiple forest fires amid challenging weather conditions, requiring extensive mobilization of human and material resources to protect residents and bring the outbreaks under control.

The national unit is responsible for continuously monitoring developments on the ground and coordinating between the various authorities and services involved in firefighting and emergency response operations.

It brings together representatives of several sectors and institutions concerned with wildfire management, allowing information to be collected and assessed in real time while facilitating rapid decisions and the deployment of additional resources when required.

The establishment of the unit reflects the government’s determination to strengthen coordination at the national level and ensure an effective response to fires reported in different parts of the country.

Civil Protection teams have been heavily mobilized in recent days, supported by other state institutions and local authorities. Their operations have focused on extinguishing fires, protecting populated areas and carrying out preventive evacuations when necessary.

According to the latest Civil Protection assessment, emergency teams extinguished 107 of the 138 fires recorded nationwide during a 24-hour period, while operations continued against the remaining outbreaks.

The authorities have stressed that protecting human life remains the highest priority throughout the emergency response.

The national crisis unit is expected to remain operational as long as necessary, ensuring continuous monitoring of the wildfire situation and close coordination between central and local authorities.

Through this mechanism, Algeria aims to improve the speed and effectiveness of its response, mobilize resources where they are most needed and ensure maximum protection for citizens, property, forests and agricultural areas affected by the fires.