Скачать или смотреть World Bank support to Strengthen Climate and Disaster Resilience in Algeria

On October 10, 1980, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake destroyed the town of El Asnam (known today as Chlef) in Algeria, causing several thousands of casualties and leading to considerable economic losses. It was followed 3 hours later by a magnitude 6.3 aftershock, making it one of the largest and deadliest earthquakes ever recorded in Algeria. 23 years later, a 6.8 magnitude earthquake shook the country again and caused devastating damage in five provinces in the north-central region.

What would happen if a disaster of a similar magnitude hit the country today? 

Unfortunately, disasters like these are far from rare in Algeria. Be it earthquakes, forest fires, or floods, Algeria has had its share of disasters over the years and has learned valuable lessons from them. The Algerian government estimates that annual spending over the past 15 years to respond to floods, earthquakes, and forest fires averages around USD 255 million (DZD 35,14 billion), with about 70% allocated to floods. Aware of the country’s growing disaster risks in the context of urbanization and climate change, the government has adopted numerous policies, regulations, and plans that demonstrate its commitment to better prepare for, manage, and mitigate the impacts of disasters. It is equally aware that the journey to disaster resilience is far from over and much remains to be done.

As such, the National Delegation for Major Risks (DNRM), which coordinates disaster risk management initiatives in Algeria, has joined efforts with the World Bank to evaluate the country’s disaster risk management system and to identify priority actions that could help boost the country’s resilience to future climate and disaster risks. Together, with support from the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR), they conducted a study titled “Diagnostic on Climate and Disaster Risk Management in Algeria,” which provides the country disaster and climate risk profile, estimates the macro-economic impacts of disasters, and highlights the advancements and challenges of Algeria’s current disaster risk management efforts.

The report, developed from 2021 to 2023, represents the culmination of an extensive review of over 500 documents, a comprehensive multi-stakeholder consultation workshop conducted in 2021, and bilateral interviews held with the DNRM and all relevant stakeholders.