Algeria: Activities benefiting victims of violence

The Algerian Red Crescent, together with the ICRC, has developed programmes to help the wounded and to provide women and children victims of violence with psychological rehabilitation. These activities, carried out in cooperation with the Ministries of Health and of Labour, are intended to meet the needs arising from the situation in Algeria. The country has had to face armed violence for over 10 years and, more recently, disturbances in Kabylie. The ICRC is providing financial support, equipment and supplies, and the services of a child psychologist, who gives advice on the training of staff and on care for the victims.

From 22 to 27 October, the Algerian Red Crescent and the ICRC organized a seminar in Biskra for 40 first-aid trainers. Three similar seminars had already been held in Algiers, Oran and Constantine. In all, 120 trainers from all over the country benefited this year from the courses offered in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and civil defence authorities. As a result, the quality of first aid that Algerian Red Crescent volunteers bring to victims will be improved.

Alongside the strengthening of National Society emergency services, five seminars organized from February to October 2001 in Algiers, Tiaret, Skikda, Bechar and Tlemcen were attended by a total of 200 mental-health professionals.  The participants shared their concrete experience in providing psychological care to women and children who have been victims of the violence in Algeria. They emphasized the need to develop a community-based multidisciplinary approach as a complement to individual psychological support.