Ould Kablia: Algeria does not need any parallel security system
Algerian interior minister Dahou Ould Kablia denied any security aspect of the National Assistance Center in decision making. He said it is no more than an external department of the ministry which was replaced by the National Commission of major Risks in charge of natural and technological risks management.
“Actually, the center was created on October 8th in 2003. It has never been a parallel police. Its mission was defined in an executive decree issued on the Official Journal on October 12th in 2003. It says that the center is no more than an assistance mechanism to manage natural and technological catastrophes. It is also a coordination mechanism between ministries to make instant decisions,” Ould Kablia told Echorouk.
“The center history shows that it was created following the November 10th’s floods in Bab El Oued [Algiers] and May 21st’s earthquake in Boumerdes [50 km east of Algiers]. It was in charge of receiving important data to prevent major risks and ensure the safety of people and their properties,” he added.
“The government has nothing to hide. To make things clear for the public opinion, let’s me say that the center was no more than an assistance institution in charge of providing data to the interior minister. Based on that information, he would decide the appropriate date to launch rescue plan in order to manage rescues operations and facilitate interventions.”
“When we speak about any mechanism, we should talk about its feasibility through evaluation. The government suggested the dissolution of this center following an assessment report submitted to the Prime Minister. The National Commission of Major Risks was officially operational on May 22nd in 2011.”
The Commission uses a prevention policy against disasters based on sustainable development concept. It is in charge of coordination with different ministries in terms of ways to face major risks.