Ahmad 
The Algerian Ministry of Health declared a state of health emergency in 21 states due to a severe heat wave sweeping the country, prompting the ministry to issue a series of urgent directives to the population to deal with the significant rise in temperatures.
The Algerian newspaper “Al-Nahar” published a statement from the ministry urging citizens to take special precautions to protect the groups most affected by the heat, such as the elderly, chronic patients, pregnant women, and young children.
The ministry stressed the importance of drinking sufficient amounts of water, avoiding sugary and caffeinated drinks, and limiting outdoor activities during the hottest hours of the day.
It also warned of the risk of sunstroke, the symptoms of which include severe headaches, nausea, intense thirst, and an abnormally high skin temperature with redness and dryness.
Civil Protection also took preventive measures to confront the risks associated with forest fires, as it warned against the danger of throwing cigarette butts from cars or setting fires in or near forests, to reduce the risk of fires.
Some areas have recorded temperatures of up to 48 degrees Celsius, and these harsh weather conditions lead to the outbreak of forest fires in many northern provinces, such as Bejaia, Bouira and Jijel. The average temperature in Algeria during the month of August is about 32 degrees Celsius in coastal areas and may reach more than 40 degrees Celsius in the interior and desert areas.
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