Dajla camp, located near Tindouf in Algeria, was recently hit by severe flooding due to torrential rains. The storms caused significant destruction of essential infrastructure, forcing many families to evacuate. Humanitarian organizations are organizing to provide emergency assistance, while the situation remains critical for thousands of affected people.
Dajla camp, located near Tindouf in southwestern Algeria, has recently suffered severe flooding following torrential rains that have hit the area over the past 72 hours. The storms have caused significant destruction to essential infrastructure, including homes, a school and a medical centre. According to Barlamane, reliable sources indicate that around 350 families have been forced to evacuate their homes due to water damage. Humanitarian organisations estimate that more than 5,000 people could be affected by this situation, which the Algerian government has failed to manage effectively.
The camp’s infrastructure, mostly built of mud bricks, has suffered considerable damage, rendering many shelters uninhabitable. In this context, the absence of the Algerian authorities has opened the way for the intervention of humanitarian agencies, such as the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), which are organizing to provide emergency aid. This aid includes the distribution of tents, blankets and hygiene products to meet the immediate needs of the affected populations. Coordination efforts between donors are underway, as the need for humanitarian assistance becomes increasingly pressing in this region, already facing a crisis that our sources describe as “disastrous”.
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Dajla camp is home to between 5,000 and 10,000 people. In November 2023, previous floods had already affected around 1,500 individuals, destroying nearly 300 tents and leaving many families homeless. Around 40% of essential infrastructure, such as drinking water points and sanitation facilities, was severely affected by these events.
In addition, reports highlight that humanitarian organizations estimate that, following the 2023 floods, only 10% of assistance needs had been covered by the Algerian government. These requests for humanitarian assistance for the residents of Dajla amount to millions of dollars, but funding often remains insufficient to meet real needs. As a result, these populations live on limited monthly food assistance, not exceeding $20 per person, which further exacerbates the situation after the recent bad weather.
