Méchraâ Houari Boumédienne

Méchraâ Houari Boumédienne (Arabic: مشرع ھوارى بومدين‎) is a town and commune in Abadla District, Béchar Province, in western Algeria. According to the 2008 census its population is 3,091,[2] down from 3,133 in 1998,[3] with an annual growth rate of -0.1%.[2] The commune covers an area of 2,820 square kilometres (1,090 sq mi).[1]

Méchraâ Houari Boumédienne مشرع ھوارى بومدين
Commune and town
Location of Méchraâ Houari Boumédienne commune within Béchar Province
Méchraâ Houari Boumédienne Location of Méchraâ Houari Boumédienne within Algeria
Coordinates: 30°55′56″N 2°44′15″W
Country	Algeria
Province	Béchar Province
District	Abadla District
Area [1]
• Total	2,820 km^2 (1,090 sq mi)
Elevation	572 m (1,877 ft)
Population  (2008)[2]
• Total	3,091
• Density	1.1/km^2 (2.8/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)

Etymology

The town is named after Houari Boumediene, a former president of Algeria.

Geography

Méchraâ Houari Boumédienne lies at an elevation of 572m to the west of the Oued Guir, an intermittent wadi, and just south of the town of Abadla. From here through Abadla to Erg Ferradj is the site of an extensive 3000 hectare palm plantation.[4]

Climate

See also: Climate of Abadla

Méchraâ Houari Boumédienne has a hot desert climate, with extremely hot summers and cool winters, and very little precipitation throughout the year.

Economy

Agriculture is the main industry in Méchraâ Houari Boumédienne. The commune has a total of 2,030 hectares (5,000 acres) of arable land, of which 1,856 hectares (4,590 acres) is irrigated.[5] There are a total of 41,850 date palms planted in the commune.[6] As of 2009 there were 791 sheep, 2,986 goats, 1,636 camels, and 10 cattle. There were also 14,600 chickens in 6 buildings.[7]

Infrastructure and housing

100% of Méchraâ Houari Boumédienne's population is connected to drinking water,[8] 99% is connected to the sewerage system,[9] and 83% (including 555 buildings) have access to electricity.[10] There are no fuel service stations in the town; the nearest is in Abadla.[11]

Méchraâ Houari Boumédienne has a total of 759 houses, of which 511 are occupied, giving an occupation rate of 6.0 inhabitants per occupied building.[12]

Transportation

Méchraâ Houari Boumédienne is on the N6 national highway between Béchar to the northeast and Adrar to the southeast. The town of Abadla is on the highway to the north, while to the south the towns of Igli, Béni Abbès and others can be accessed. The N50 highway leaves the N6 to the west just to the north of Méchraâ Houari Boumédienne; it eventually leads to Tindouf, passing Hamaguir and Tinfouchy on the way.

Méchraâ Houari Boumédienne is 20 kilometres (12 mi) from Abadla, and 111 kilometres (69 mi) from the provincial capital, Béchar.[4]

There is a total length of 147 kilometres (91 mi) of roads in the commune.[13]

Education

There are 2 elementary schools, with 24 classrooms including 14 in use.[14] There are a total of 732 school students.[15]

3.6% of the population has a tertiary education, and another 13.8% has competed secondary education.[16] The overall literacy rate is 63.9%, and is 70.2% among males and 57.7% among females. The rate for males is the lowest in the province, and the rates overall and for females are the second lowest.[17]

Health

Méchraâ Houari Boumédienne has a hospital, which is a central focus of healthcare for Abadla district and Tabelbala. There are also a polyclinic, a room care facility, and a medical operating theatre.[18]

Religion

Méchraâ Houari Boumédienne has 2 operational mosques.[19]

References

1. "Population, Area and Density per Commune" (in French). Official Website of the Wilaya of Bechar. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
2. "Population: Béchar Wilaya" (PDF) (in French). Office National des Statistiques Algérie. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
3. "Algeria Communes". Statoids. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
4. "Presentation" (in French). Site Officiel de la Wilaya de Béchar. Archived from the original on 16 February 2013. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
5. "Distribution of Agricultural Land" (in French). Official Website of the Wilaya of Bechar. Archived from the original on 10 July 2014. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
6. "Plant Productions" (in French). Official Website of the Wilaya of Bechar. Archived from the original on 20 August 2014. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
7. "Animal Production" (in French). Official Website of the Wilaya of Bechar. Archived from the original on 20 August 2014. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
8. "Drinking Water" (in French). Official Website of the Wilaya of Bechar. Archived from the original on 9 July 2014. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
9. "Sewerage Networks" (in French). Official Website of the Wilaya of Bechar. Archived from the original on 10 July 2014. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
10. "Electrification" (in French). Official Website of the Wilaya of Bechar. Archived from the original on 9 July 2014. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
11. "Fuel Distribution" (in French). Official Website of the Wilaya of Bechar. Archived from the original on 10 July 2014. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
12. "Housing" (in French). Official Website of the Wilaya of Bechar. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
13. "Density Kilometres" (in French). Official Website of the Wilaya of Bechar. Archived from the original on 29 April 2014. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
14. "School Infrastructure" (in French). Official Website of the Wilaya of Bechar. Archived from the original on 29 April 2014. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
15. "Number of Pupils" (in French). Official Website of the Wilaya of Bechar. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
16. "Structure relative de la population résidente des ménages ordinaires et collectifs âgée de 6 ans et plus selon le niveau d'instruction et la commune de résidence" (PDF) (in French). Office National des Statistiques Algérie. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
17. "Taux d'analphabétisme et taux d'alphabétisation de la population âgée de 15 ans et plus, selon le sexe et la commune de résidence " (PDF) (in French). Office National des Statistiques Algérie. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
18. "Health Facilities by Commune" (in French). Official Website of the Wilaya of Bechar. Archived from the original on 29 April 2014. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
19. "Mosques and Koranic Rooms" (in French). Official Website of the Wilaya of Bechar. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 9 March 2013.

Neighbouring towns and cities