GOVERNMENT SCRAMBLES TO REASSURE GHARDAIA FLOOD

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ALGIERS 001088

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/05/2018
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KISL AG
SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT SCRAMBLES TO REASSURE GHARDAIA FLOOD
VICTIMS

REF: ALGIERS 588

Classified By: DCM Thomas F. Daughton; reasons 1.4 (b),(d)


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Frustration in Ghardaia province following
severe October 1 floods led some 5000 people into the streets
to protest what they perceived to be the government's
sluggish response. The worst flooding the region has seen in
over a century took the lives of 33 people, damaged 4000
homes, and caused widespread damage to the already weak
infrastructure. The Ghardaia region, specifically the
hard-hit town of Berriane, was the site of sectarian violence
between Maliki and Ibadi Muslim communities in March and May
of this year (reftel). Fearing another round of ethnic
clashes, the government scrambled to disperse the
demonstrators, sent police and military reinforcements to the
region, and has made significant progress in getting relief
supplies to victims. Both the prime minister and interior
minister have made visits to Ghardaia in the last 48 hours to
reassure the victims that the central government is
responding to their needs. END SUMMARY.


2. (U) Heavy rains on September 30 caused the rivers of the
usually arid wilaya (province) of Ghardaia to swell by 26
feet, flooding the surrounding plains. The force of the
flash flood waters destroyed a major bridge on a north-south
artery, claimed 33 lives, damaged as many as 4000 homes and
swept away livestock and belongings. An Embassy contact from
Ghardaia described the situation as, "Hell -- the waters
surrounded us on all sides and swept away our possessions.
We all took the women and children to the upper terraces of
our homes to wait for the waters to subside."


3. (C) The government attempted to respond quickly,
dispatching first aid supplies to Ghardaia, but extensive
infrastructure damage prevented the supplies from reaching
victims in a timely fashion, thus creating the perception
among the population that the government was doing nothing to
aid those left homeless, stranded and hungry. On October 2,
a demonstration of around 5000 people materialized in the
town of Ghardaia to protest the government's perceived
sluggish response. The demonstration was dispersed by local
police, but the manifestation of widespread public discontent
clearly caused the central government to redouble its relief
efforts for fear of larger disturbances.


4. (C) Ghardaia has been an area of increasing concern this
year as sectarian violence broke out in March and May between
the rival Maliki and Ibadi Muslim communities (reftel). The
ethnically charged flare-ups left several dead and exposed
the relative ineffectiveness of national security forces in
the province before the police finally moved in to quell the
rioting.


5. (C) Soon after the October 2 demonstration, the government
stood up a task force to manage the crisis and deployed the
army and civilian response corps to Ghardaia. Equipped with
helicopters and heavy machinery, the forces have been
successful in rescuing stranded victims and in reestablishing
basic services such as electricity, water and gas to a
majority of the population. Prime Minister Ouyahia and
Interior Minister Zerhouni have both visited Ghardaia within
the past 48 hours to reassure the population that the central
government is on the job. Our source in Ghardaia told the
Embassy that while people are now getting most of the
services they need, the prime minister was confronted with
harsh criticism by victims as he toured the affected areas.


6. (C) COMMENT: The Ghardaia floods were a serious tragedy
both for the loss of life and for the damage to
infrastructure and agricultural lands. More than in other
regions, however, the disaster has the possibility of more
profound political and security ramifications. As one
Embassy contact told us, "This year alone, our province has
had to face a human conflict and is now confronted with an
act of God -- this is a lot for one region." In stark
contrast to the government's perceived silence and inactivity
after a series of terrorist attacks the the Kabylie region in
August, the ministerial scramble to travel to Ghardaia and
demonstrate support for victims suggests that the Algerian
government is well aware of the destabilizing potential for
clashes between ethno-religious groups competing for scarce

ALGIERS 00001088 002 OF 002


resources in the region.
PEARCE