On the 21st of May 2003, the most powerful earthquake to have affected North Africa since 1980 struck northern Algeria. This tragic disaster led to the death of more than 2,200 people, injured more than 10,000 and left at least 180,000 homeless. Within a few hours of the earthquake, the staff and volunteers of the Algerian Red Crescent Society (ARCS) were mobilised; and the disaster response mechanism of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (the Secretariat and other Red Cross/Red Crescent National Societies) activated to support the immediate response activities. During this period, the Algerian Red Crescent received substantial national support from various sources, including the private sector. The National Society was also part of the team appointed by the Inter ior Ministry to manage the camps for the persons who were displaced.

The Algerian authorities housed the displaced population in chalets used as temporary housing and erected on various sites. In early 2004, the Algerian authorities started to relocate fam ilies located in the temporary housing to the newly built, permanent, houses. The liberated chalets were then allocated to other needy families, for use as permanent accommodation.

At the end of the emergency phase, the Algerian Red Crescent, in collaboration with the International Federation and sister National Societies, turned its attention to longer term programmes which were aimed at increasing its capacity in several areas of disaster management and psychological assistance at headquarters and wilaya (branch) levels. This phase lasted for some two years (until May 2005). During this period, the French Red Cross and the Tunis Regional Office spearheaded the carrying out of an initial evaluation of the operation in February 2004, in the presence of loc al and some international partners. This evaluation provided useful insights into the way the operation was implemented from the extreme emergency phase to the first 21 days; and recommendations were made regarding the steps to be taken, to ensure greater efficiency in the future. A separate report of this activity is available.

Due to the various processes of change which the National Society experienced during the implementation of the operation (among these the changes in the leadership, originally due to the death of the President after a protracted period of illness; and subsequently two other changes which were spearheaded by the authorities , one of which is still in progress – in line with the National Society’s statutes), there were disruptions in the normal functioning of the National Society. These disruptions resulted in the delay in the implementation of some of the activities which were planned. In spite of this situation, significant progress was registered in the implementation of the plan of action, and will be detailed below. The remaining funds for the operation will be transferred to a separate project account, to be managed by the regional office, and allowing for the completion of planned activities.

As was the case during the emergency phase, the operation was carried out in close coordination with the various donor National Societies which either had a physical presence in Algeria, or who financed different parts of the plan of action. The operation was also closely coordinated with the representation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which had been supporting the National Society in other areas of their work prior to the earthquake. In addition, the Algerian Red Crescent closely coordinated its activities with the various department and agencies of the government, the non-governmental sector (including universities and research institutes), and the private sector.

Algeria Earthquake Appeal No. 14/03 Final report

Full report:

International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies (IFRC): Algeria Earthquake Appeal - Final report (.pdf document)