Algiers Casbah: 30% of the buildings in a state of "advanced deterioration", one in six have disappeared

All inhabited houses are overcrowded these houses are mostly located in the traditional settlement area and represent 30% of the protected area of ​​the Casbah of Algiers await the implementation of the permanent backupplan, adopted in February 2012, the report said. It is today hampered by the delay in a houing award by the wilaya of Algiers.

Saved the perimeter of the Kasbah of Algiers lost 17% of its housing stock, and 373 houses have disppeared their location remained neglected, threatening the strength of the rest of the buildings, the OGEBC report said .

The backup plan provides for the identical reconstruction of collapsed houses.

According to the report, 908 other homes are currently "moderately or superficially degraded", 120 buildings and 120 ruins are either closed or sealed, mostly inhabited by squatters.

Of these, the squatter buildings are "classified as dangerous" hindering the launch of the restoration as provided by the backup plan, according to which OGEBC has asked the Wilya of Algiers for 514 temporary houses and 793 permanent houses to the wilaya of Algiers without as yet receiving any of the housesrequested.

The report of the Office also notes that of the buildings still standing in 1816, 271 have undergone recent elevation, 171 elevation dating from the colonial period and 41 cases of illegal extensions.

The architects of the OGEBC say these changes to the original structure remains the leading cause of housing collapse, the most recent dating back to 18 February.

In addition, the report outlines 72 illegal constructions, between houses and huts erected inside the perimeter of the Casbah of Algiers and called to be "eradicated", according to the Office which points the finger at too many modifications to homes.

Among these changes, the Office is the case of wells inside the houses and cottages of the Casbah which have been turned into septic tanks that currently pose a "public health problem".