Algeria monitors its coast to stop migrants going to Europe

Algerian naval and coast guards started on Tuesday implementing a security plan aimed at deterring secret migration, the Anadolu Agency reported.

The implementation of the plan came days after a number of boats with hundreds of migrants drowned off the Italian coast.

A security source who spoke to Anadolu on condition of anonymity said: “Algerian air and naval forces started a wide-range security plan on Tuesday aimed at curbing the number of boats that infiltrate Algerian waters heading for Europe.”

According to the source, these forces are supplied with helicopters in addition to the other naval facilities in order to improve the monitoring process along the country’s 1,200 kilometre coastline. The coast will be monitored 24 hours a day.

Meanwhile, Izzidine Biswar, member of the Harraga Association which helps migrants, said: “It seems that the Algerian authorities have activated a preventive plan to stop future troubles.”

“The number of migrants who set off from Algeria has reduced for many reasons, mainly because of strict security monitoring. They prefer to set off from Libya,” he explained.