DZ-URBAN NATURAL HAZARD VULNERABILITY

Emergency assistance to the Government for the reconstruction of the infrastructure sectors following floods of November 2001, causing the loss of about 800 lives, approximately 95 percent of which occurred in the capital of Algiers (specifically in the Oued Koriche catchment). The main objectives of the proposed operation are: (a) strengthening of the national capacity of disaster management (including both short term preparedness and response, and the long-term hazard reduction measures); and (b) reduction of urban vulnerability to natural hazards, including housing reconstruction in the priority areas, such as the Bouzareah Massif in the Wilaya of Algiers. 05/06/02. Task Team Leader changed from Andreas Wildt to Jelena Pantelic effective May 1, 2002. 06/04/02. A mission visited Algeria during May 4 to 27, 2002 to pre-appraise the project. With the receipt of the two key safeguards policy documents on May 27, 2002, (i.e., Resettlement Policy Framework # RFP, and Environmental Management Plan # EMP), and fruitful discussions and understandings reached with the Borrower, the mission was able to successfully complete appraisal. 06/10/02. Negotiations to be held in Algiers from June 12-19, 2002. 07/03/02. The Board presentation slipped from July 30 to August 8 due to the need for additional time to complete the translation of the voluminous technical annex of the MOP from French to English. 07/10/03. The TTL has been changed from Jelena Pantelic to Sateh El-Arnaout effective July 1, 2003.