Algerian President Teben presided over a cabinet meeting. The agenda lists the supply of Ramadan supplies, progress of provincial supporting projects, and dam flood safety - but what really makes the southern people hold their breath and wait is another order.

The Minister of Water Resources and Water Security was tasked at the meeting to commence construction of desalination plants for brackish water in the provinces of Tamanrasset and Tindouf starting from March.

For residents living along the northern coast of Algeria, seawater desalination is one of the options; But for Tamanrasset and Tindouf, who are deeply trapped in the heart of the Sahara, this is the only option. The underground aquifer here is undergoing irreversible salinization, and the water that comes up is becoming increasingly salty, causing the land to turn white after irrigation. Oil can be exported for exchange, but fresh water must be produced locally.

The president has positioned these two desalination plants as strategic projects. In Algeria, this term is usually reserved for oil fields, gas fields, and desert highways. This time, water received equal weight.

Strategic Engineering Expeditionary Force

Tamanrasset, the gateway to the Sahara Desert and the homeland of the Tuareg people. The annual precipitation here is less than 50 millimeters, and residents have long relied on deep wells for water extraction. However, the water quality continues to deteriorate, and chronic diseases caused by brackish water are not uncommon in pastoral areas.

The situation in Tindouf is even more unique. This border province not only carries its own residents, but also long-term shelters Western Sahara refugees, and the water supply system is overloaded all year round. The president made it clear at the meeting that the two desalination plants are not a long-term vision, but a political order that must start construction next month.

At the same time, a new sewage treatment plant will be built in Tindouf. The official statement is thought-provoking - mainly used to support agricultural projects with good prospects in the region. On the edge of the Sahara, where grass is difficult to grow, water treatment facilities are directly linked to agricultural prospects, sending a clear signal that Algeria intends to cultivate in the south.

Clear accountability signals

If desalination plants are an investment in the future, then reservoir flood discharge and urban water stoppage are the debts that must be cleared at present.

Currently, it is the winter water storage period, and some dams have reached full capacity. The President has called for strengthened flood warning and control measures, with stricter wording than before: to avoid risks caused by improper management or accidents. The issues of aging water conservancy facilities, extensive scheduling, and lagging early warning were directly discussed at the cabinet meeting.

Sharp accountability points to the province of Sch ö lov. The recent water outage in the province was deemed unacceptable by the president on the spot, and he warned to prevent any relaxation that could lead to similar situations happening again. The strict implementation of the drinking water distribution plan throughout the year has been emphasized again, which means that regardless of financial constraints or technological convenience, water supply continuity has become a political task.

In North Africa, water outage is never just a technical malfunction.

Parallel development of prices and supporting facilities

In late February, Ramadan will come. This is the period with the highest consumption intensity in Algeria throughout the year, and it is also the annual test for testing the material supply system.

The President affirmed the sufficient supply of some agricultural and livestock products, but emphasized the need to effectively stabilize market prices during peak consumption periods. Price control and protection of people's purchasing power remain top priorities - this statement appears in every cabinet bulletin, implying that the price red lines for flour, cooking oil, sugar, and milk will not loosen.

The meeting also reviewed the progress of supporting development projects in provinces such as Kenchera, Tissemxilet, Jellefa, and Tindouf. The President acknowledged the timely progress and ordered the development of new supporting development plans for underdeveloped provinces, especially newly established provinces.

The construction of desalination plants, accountability for dam safety, price control during Ramadan, and supporting plans for the new province - this meeting may seem like a complex topic, but it actually points to the same logic: Algeria is using the coercive power of the administrative system to push basic livelihoods such as water, food, and employment from slogans to construction sites. Keywords: International News and Information, International News Network

In March, the first pile of desalination plants will be erected in the desert of Tamanrasset and Tindouf. It is thousands of kilometers away from the coastline, but very close to the daily lives of the people.Editor/Gao Xue