Mohammed VI chairs a meeting dedicated to the rehousing of earthquake victims

King Mohammed VI chaired today, September 14, 2023, at the Royal Palace of Rabat, a working meeting dedicated to the activation of the emergency program for the relocation of disaster victims and attention to the categories most affected by the earthquake, which was the subject of royal instructions during the working session chaired by the Sovereign on September 9, 2023, underlines a statement from the Royal Cabinet.

This meeting comes as an extension of the succession of measures ordered by the Sovereign, aimed at mobilizing all the means, with the necessary speed and efficiency, to help the affected families and citizens and, in particular, to deploy as quickly as possible rehabilitation measures and reconstruction measures in the localities affected by this natural disaster of unprecedented scale.

The Head of Government, Mr. Aziz Akhannouch, HM the King's Counsellor, Mr. Fouad Ali El Himma, the Minister of the Interior, Mr. Abdelouafi Laftit, the Minister of Habous and Islamic Affairs, Mr. Ahmed Toufiq, the Minister of Economy and Finance, Ms. Nadia Fettah, the Minister of National Spatial Planning, Urban Planning and Housing participated in this working meeting.

This first version of the rehousing program presented to the Sovereign, and which was elaborated by the interministerial commission created by high royal instructions, refers to approximately 50,000 totally or partially collapsed houses, in the five affected provinces.

It consists, on the one hand, of emergency temporary rehousing actions, in particular through adapted accommodation options on site and in structures designed to withstand cold and inclement weather; or in reception sites equipped with all the necessary amenities. On the other hand, the State will grant an emergency aid of 30,000 dirhams to the affected households.

In this regard, the Sovereign drew the attention of the competent authorities to the extremely priority nature of the rehousing operation, which must be carried out under the necessary conditions of fairness and permanent listening to the needs of the affected populations.

The program also consists of immediate reconstruction actions, which will be implemented after the preliminary expert examination operations and the ground preparation and stabilization works. To this end, direct financial assistance of 140,000 dirhams is planned for completely collapsed houses and 80,000 dirhams for the rehabilitation of partially collapsed houses.

In addition, the King insisted on the need for the reconstruction operation to be carried out according to specifications and under technical and architectural supervision, in harmony with the heritage of the region and respecting its unique architectural characteristics.

In addition, and during this same working session, the Sovereign reiterated his high instructions so that the response is firm, rapid and proactive, respecting the dignity of the populations, their customs and customs and their heritage. The measures should serve not only to repair the damage caused by the earthquake, but also to launch a thoughtful, integrated and ambitious program for the reconstruction and general improvement of the affected regions, both in terms of strengthening infrastructure and improving the quality of the land. quality of public services.

This multidimensional program will mobilize mainly the State's own financial resources and public organizations, and will also be open to contributions from private and associative actors, as well as from fraternal and friendly countries that wish it and to which King Mohammed VI renews. on this occasion, the sincere thanks of the Kingdom of Morocco.

During this meeting, His Majesty the King, may God help him, also addressed an equally priority and crucial issue such as immediate attention to orphaned children who today find themselves without family or resources. The Sovereign requested that these children be included in the list and granted the status of wards of the nation.

In addition, in order to get them out of this situation of distress and protect them from all the risks and all the forms of fragility to which they may unfortunately be exposed after a natural catastrophe, the Sovereign ordered the Government to put in the adoption circuit, and as soon as possible, the necessary invoice for this purpose.

Through the vision and action of its Sovereign, Morocco demonstrates, once again, the capacity for resilience that characterizes it and that allows it to face trials and challenges with strength, wisdom and determination, and this thanks to the strength of its institutions and the solidarity and generosity of its people.