2013 August Hassi Mesaoud Algeria

Hassi Messaoud

Hassi Messaoud is an industrial city in Algeria. A lot of oil and gas companies decided to allocate their camps here.

The first discovery was neither gas nor oil, it was water.

The camps are like fortresses with armed guards, defensive walls and check points. Same happens on the roads leading to them. In order to enter the town, you need to go through few police and military check points.

Long distance travel by car is forbidden for expats due to security reasons. The city has many checkpoints that why Hassi is a kind of 'green zone' where expats can travel safely from camps to the city or the airport.

Mild desert storm

Entrance to one of the base

Ceck point

During the weekend, local people organise BBQs on dunes around Hassi. Sometimes you can see.

BBQs on dunes

BBQs on dunes

I found departure procedures at the airport really strange. They include several checks. At the entrance to the building is the first scanning of baggage and a simple body search. What is funny, smoking inside is forbidden, however, no one respects it.

Afterwards, an immigration form should be filled and checked by a policeman together with your passport and then, once completed, you need to have your hand luggage checked again by a scanner. Finally, you can enter waiting area. When the boarding starts they will check your ticket and you will be taken by bus. After getting off the bus, the boarding card is checked again and near the plane, on the ground, registered luggage is waiting for passengers. Before boarding your flight, you have to pick it up, put on a big trolley. When they collect all luggage they will take it to the hold.

Time for the last hand luggage check by a policemen (sometimes they do very detailed check), a simple body search. After all this checks, passengers can take a seat on the plane.
This procedure is for national and international flights and is slightly different if you have international flights from Algiers (there is no need to carry your own registered baggage to the hold using trolley). 

The procedure is for locals and expats.
If you ever travel to Algeria - enjoy the trip. :-)

Local shop

Dirty dunes

At the airport

Hassi

Hassi