UAE offers condolences to Algeria after devastating blaze claims lives of 11 children in Algiers suburb
ABU DHABI / ALGIERS : The United Arab Emirates has expressed its deep solidarity and condolences to Algeria following a devastating fire at a state-run childcare facility in an eastern suburb of Algiers, which claimed the lives of 11 children and left 19 others injured.
In an official statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) in Abu Dhabi, the UAE extended its sincere sympathies to the Algerian government, its people, and the families affected by the tragedy, wishing a swift recovery for those hospitalized.
The fire erupted at approximately 3:30 AM on Thursday at an orphanage located in the Mohammadia suburb, east of the Algerian capital. Preliminary investigations by Algerian emergency services and local authorities indicate that the blaze was triggered by an electrical short circuit in an air-conditioning unit. The appliance had been running continuously to counter a severe heatwave gripping the North African nation.
Emergency response units arrived at the scene in the early hours of Thursday to find the facility engulfed in smoke. First responders managed to evacuate dozens of residents, including five children with disabilities who were moved to safety. However, the intensity of the smoke and flames led to the immediate deaths of 11 children.
Among the 19 injured individuals transported to local hospitals, 10 are being treated for varying degrees of burns, while others suffered from smoke inhalation.
The Algerian Ministry of Solidarity, Family, and the Status of Women, which oversees state-run childcare homes, confirmed that psychosocial support units have been deployed to assist the surviving children and staff members traumatized by the event. An official inquiry has been launched to evaluate safety protocols and building infrastructure across public care homes during peak summer temperatures.
Messages of support have continued to pour into Algiers from across the Arab world and international community, echoing the UAE’s call for solidarity as the country mourns the young victims of the tragedy.
