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Merad, who was accompanied by Krikou, said "the president of the Republic insists, in his instructions, that officials make citizens a top priority."

"The president of the Republic has sent us to convey his condolences and those of the prime minister and the government members to Bouhoula family, who lost their seven-year-old daughter, Hiba, a pupil in the second primary grade, wept by the flood as a result of the pouring rain in the afternoon of last Wednesday as she was on her way back from school."

The minister said "the State has mobilized all its resources in the search for little Hiba as soon as her disappearance was reported with the hope to find her alive."

Merad praised the great efforts made by local authorities and civil protection officers in all the provinces hit by the floods.

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