Image: Screenshot
The Moroccan government officially classified several areas in the northwest of the Kingdom as "disaster zones" on Thursday, declaring a state of national catastrophe at the same time. This decision follows exceptional weather disturbances that caused widespread flooding in many provinces.
A Heavy Human and Material Toll
According to a statement from the Government Presidency, this emergency measure targets the four most severely affected provinces: Larache, Kénitra, Sidi Kacem, and Sidi Slimane. This classification comes after a thorough on-site assessment of the damage and its significant economic and social repercussions. Official data testify to the violence of the disaster, with over 110,000 hectares of land submerged in water and the preventive evacuation of nearly 154,000 people in these localities.
A $300 Million Relief Plan
In the face of the gravity of the situation, the authorities have unlocked a massive support program with a budget of approximately $300 million. This emergency plan is designed to meet immediate and future needs through three essential pillars. It first provides direct social support to the affected populations, followed by a strategy to revive local development. Finally, a significant portion of the funds will be allocated to the priority reconstruction of infrastructure damaged by the weather. Read also: Floods in Morocco and Spain: the "storm train" episode worries
