Algeria
Algerian farmers are inspecting their lands after numerous forest fires ravaged large parts of the north and east and killed almost 40 people this week. Authorities said on Friday most of the wildfires were under control.
In the village of El Kala, close to the Tunisian border, Um El-Kheir and her neighbours are under shock after losing all of their belongings and livelihood in flames. "The trees are all gone, the pomegranate trees burned along with all the lemon trees and their fruits. Our furniture got destroyed, including the TV, nothing was left of it. My daughter's clothes and all her belongings are gone, scattered everywhere. Everything we had was destroyed during this disaster. We only have God to rely on.", says the 76-year-old woman. 40-year-old Hamdi Gemidi says he has "nowhere to go and nothing to make a living from" after he lost the livestock.
According to the Director General of Civil Protection Colonel Boughlef, more than 1,000 families have been evacuated since Wednesday from the affected areas.
On Wednesday and Thursday, over 1.700 firefighters were called in to combat close to 70 fires. But criticism spread as many deplored the lack of means as the country does not gold Firefighting Aircrafts. Algeria is facing more and more fires because of drought and heat waves linked to climate change.
01:47
Dakar 2 summit: 'Africa must learn to feed itself', says Macky Sall
01:43
Western Sahara: The Polisario movement's 16th congress set for election
02:00
CHAN defenders Morocco may be out of tournament after row with Algeria
01:30
Polisario begin leadership talks in Western Sahara amid rising tensions
01:08
Polisario Front members meet in Algeria to discuss leadership elections
Go to video
CHAN 2023: Time for Algeria