Deadly weather that devastated Algeria has sparked new schemes to head off further floods.
By Ademe Amine for Magharebia in Algiers – 25/02/10
Government officials are racing to shore up Algeria's defenses against deadly weather before the next storm strikes.
Algeria "has set aside a budget of about 40 billion [dinars] as part of its 2010 - 2014 five-year program to protect Algerian towns and cities against flooding," drainage and sanitation government official Hacen Aït Amara said.
A series of brutal storms punctuated Aït Amara's remarks, killing 8 and injuring 23 between February 12th and 15th. Winds and flooding destroyed buildings and left roads impassable in the wilayas of Tizi Ouzou, Bouira, Bejaïa, Jijel, Bordj Bou Arreridj, Batna and Setif.
The February storms are only the most recent to strike Algeria. A September 2009 storm killed at least 15 and destroyed the homes of five families; two Algerians remain missing. Fifteen more died in a January 2009 storm, which flooded 22 wilayas and injured 41. And an October 2008 flood swept over the capital of Saoura, Ghardaïa in a river of mud.
Government officials hope to anticipate future storms instead of simply reacting to unforeseen disasters.
"A map of all flood-prone areas in Algeria is being drawn up so that places at risk can be identified," Aït Amara said.
New legislation will also allow local officials to secure bank loans for disaster relief efforts, Minister Dahou Ould Kabalia said February 10th.
"The future Communal Code, which is to come into force over the first half of 2010, will enable the Communal Popular Assemblies to arrange bank loans," he said.
Individuals must also take responsibility for their safety, National Insurance Council director general Abdelhakim Benbouabdellah said.
There are "few people" who buy disaster insurance, he said.
An information gap and mistrust towards insurance companies explains the low enrollment rates, according to insurance specialists.
Algeria is particularly susceptible to floods, drought, locust plagues, industrial hazards and earthquakes. Legislation following Algeria's May 2003 earthquake mandates disaster insurance. The mandate took effect in 2004, but no more than 2% of the population has purchased insurance.
The National Insurance Council is mulling how to secure more customers for natural disaster policies, and is suggesting that building owners should have to present related insurance certificates when paying their utility bills in the last quarter of each year.
Source: Magharebia.com
Link: http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2010/02/25/feature-02.
By Ademe Amine for Magharebia in Algiers – 25/02/10
Government officials are racing to shore up Algeria's defenses against deadly weather before the next storm strikes.
Algeria "has set aside a budget of about 40 billion [dinars] as part of its 2010 - 2014 five-year program to protect Algerian towns and cities against flooding," drainage and sanitation government official Hacen Aït Amara said.
A series of brutal storms punctuated Aït Amara's remarks, killing 8 and injuring 23 between February 12th and 15th. Winds and flooding destroyed buildings and left roads impassable in the wilayas of Tizi Ouzou, Bouira, Bejaïa, Jijel, Bordj Bou Arreridj, Batna and Setif.
The February storms are only the most recent to strike Algeria. A September 2009 storm killed at least 15 and destroyed the homes of five families; two Algerians remain missing. Fifteen more died in a January 2009 storm, which flooded 22 wilayas and injured 41. And an October 2008 flood swept over the capital of Saoura, Ghardaïa in a river of mud.
Government officials hope to anticipate future storms instead of simply reacting to unforeseen disasters.
"A map of all flood-prone areas in Algeria is being drawn up so that places at risk can be identified," Aït Amara said.
New legislation will also allow local officials to secure bank loans for disaster relief efforts, Minister Dahou Ould Kabalia said February 10th.
"The future Communal Code, which is to come into force over the first half of 2010, will enable the Communal Popular Assemblies to arrange bank loans," he said.
Individuals must also take responsibility for their safety, National Insurance Council director general Abdelhakim Benbouabdellah said.
There are "few people" who buy disaster insurance, he said.
An information gap and mistrust towards insurance companies explains the low enrollment rates, according to insurance specialists.
Algeria is particularly susceptible to floods, drought, locust plagues, industrial hazards and earthquakes. Legislation following Algeria's May 2003 earthquake mandates disaster insurance. The mandate took effect in 2004, but no more than 2% of the population has purchased insurance.
The National Insurance Council is mulling how to secure more customers for natural disaster policies, and is suggesting that building owners should have to present related insurance certificates when paying their utility bills in the last quarter of each year.
Source: Magharebia.com
Link: http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2010/02/25/feature-02.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.