— Crisis Report —
Wildfires are tearing through northeastern Algeria — 16 provinces, hundreds of families displaced, and temperatures above 45°C. Here is what is happening, and how you can help from wherever you are.
September 2026 · Algerian Americans Newsroom
In the last days of August 2026, Algeria experienced one of its most devastating wildfire seasons in years. Driven by a brutal heatwave — temperatures exceeding 45°C across the country — and relentless winds, fires erupted simultaneously across northeastern Algeria, overwhelming civil protection teams and forcing thousands of families to flee their homes.
At the peak on August 28th, 193 simultaneous fire outbreaks were recorded nationwide. The fires burned through forests, farmland, and entire neighborhoods — with some families watching their homes turn to ash with little time to evacuate.
The hardest-hit provinces are concentrated in northeastern Algeria’s coastal and mountainous regions — areas where dense forest and steep terrain make firefighting especially difficult:
In Jijel alone, 5 people were killed. In Béjaïa, 36 separate fire outbreaks were recorded in a single day, with 18 eventually brought under control. The Algerian government declared three days of national mourning beginning August 27th, and launched investigations into potential arson, with several arrests made.
“Entire houses burned down — families are being temporarily rehoused, and thousands have lost everything they owned.”
Beyond the immediate human toll, the fires have consumed thousands of hectares of forest and farmland, threatening livelihoods and ecosystems that communities in these regions depend on.
For those of us in the United States — thousands of miles away — watching these images is agonizing. Our families are there. Our roots are there. And the desire to do something is real and urgent.
Distance does not have to mean helplessness. One of the most direct tools now available is a platform built specifically for this crisis by Melek Benkraouda, an Algerian developer committed to making community aid work better.
Not everyone in Algeria who needs help knows this platform exists yet. If you have family or friends in the affected provinces — particularly in Jijel, Béjaïa, or Tizi Ouzou — share algeriaid.com with them directly. Post it in community groups, family chats, and on social media.
We will continue to track the situation and update this post as the fires evolve. The Algerian-American community stands with Algeria — and with every family waiting for the smoke to clear.
Sources: Al Jazeera · LIFE ONG · France 24 · Masaada / algeriaid.com