Natural disasters in Algeria during the French occupation in the interests of the Algerian newspaper An-Najah (The 1954 Asnam earthquake as a model)

Abstract

 The Algerian newspaper An-Najah (1919-1956) represents a rich historical raw material in terms of topics that can be exploited according to a scientific, analytical, and critical approach in rewriting the history of contemporary Algeria. The newspaper contained abundant information covering various aspects of Algerian society and its various events under the French occupation. At the forefront of these events that attracted its attention was the violent earthquake that struck the city of Asnam and its suburbs in 1954. An-Najah was able to cover the natural disaster in the media and publish its news and reflect various national, Arab, Islamic, French, and international positions in solidarity with the earthquake victims. It also played its media role in influencing Algerians and French authorities to make them aware of the suffering of the earthquake victims, in order to push them in one way or another to console them and provide them with the required support, which was embodied in the field.