Algerian Radio
The Ministry of Culture and Arts announced on Wednesday evening in a statement "the immediate suspension of all artistic and cultural festivals of a festive nature, planned and scheduled across the entire national territory during the coming month of August and organized by institutions and festival committees under its supervision."
This suspension is due to "exceptional circumstances experienced by several of the country's wilayas, as a result of forest fires that broke out simultaneously alongside record-breaking temperature rises in various regions of the country," the same source specified.
Within this framework, "the Minister of Culture and Arts, Malika Bendouda, has given firm instructions for the immediate suspension of all festivals of a festive nature without exception," the statement added.
"This emergency measure, stemming from the duty of total solidarity with the children of our people in this great ordeal, is dictated by the imperative of strict compliance with preventive and proactive measures aimed at ensuring citizen safety, and directing all national and community efforts toward helping and supporting victims," the statement concluded. "It also aims to support the bodies mobilized on the ground, including members of the People's National Army (PNA), the Civil Protection services, the National Gendarmerie forces, the Forest Conservator's offices, doctors, as well as civil society volunteers."
