Last weekend, Tiaret, a city in central Algeria, experienced violent riots due to severe water shortages that have plagued the region for months. The city, with a population of less than 200,000, faced a dire situation as taps ran dry, forcing residents to queue for access to water.
Protestors, donning balaclavas, took to the streets, setting tires on fire and erecting makeshift barricades to voice their frustration over water rationing. President Abdelmajid Tebboune responded to the unrest by urging his cabinet to implement emergency measures in Tiaret. Government ministers were dispatched to apologize to the population and assure them that access to drinking water would be restored.
The water crisis in Tiaret is exacerbated by a multi-year drought that has severely depleted reservoirs and reduced rainfall in the region. The area, located on a semi-arid high desert plateau, relies on three dammed reservoirs for water supply, which are now at only 20% of their capacity due to the lack of rain and soaring temperatures.
Algeria's long-term solution involves piping water from larger dams located north and south of Tiaret and investing in desalination plants. In the interim, efforts are being made to import water from nearby sources. Cosider, the public company responsible for water infrastructure, aims to complete new pipelines by July to transport groundwater from wells located 20 miles away to Tiaret.
Despite the recent calm in Tiaret, the water shortage remains a pressing issue for the city and surrounding municipalities. Social media has been abuzz with news of the unrest, as traditional media outlets in Algeria have provided limited coverage due to government restrictions on press freedom.
The situation in Tiaret serves as a stark reminder of the challenges posed by climate change in the region and the urgent need for sustainable water management strategies to ensure the well-being of the population.
