The Moroccan government assists its citizens in the wake of the cold snap

The Moroccan government has drawn up a National Plan for Mitigating the Effects of the Cold Wave in the country for this winter. During the session of questions in the Chamber of Councillors, Abdelouafi Laftit, Minister of the Interior, recalled that all the necessary measures had already been planned to avoid any disaster in the face of this wave. 

According to Laftit, this year's intervention will have an impact on almost 1800 aduars - nomadic people living in the Maghreb. In addition, the frost is expected to affect 233 localities in 27 different provinces, so the aid will be directed to more than 150,000 families and, in total, to 800,000 Moroccan citizens.

On the other hand, the Alawi government has already classified the areas that will be affected based on criteria that may include the total isolation of people to avoid any damage. The classification is in three main levels, to ensure effective intervention in any case.

The first of these are those at the red level, mainly the aduars who are at risk of isolation for a period of more than seven days. There are 654 families in this band, making an estimated total of 250,000 people. Secondly, there are aduars that are at risk of isolation for between four and seven days. These are estimated to total 330,000 people. Finally, the yellow level, which poses less of a problem for the public, are the aduars that are in isolation for a period of two to three days and total almost 220,000 people.

This year, the government has organised several mini-medical campaigns for both pandemic and coronavirus-related situations, as well as visits by medical authorities in mobile units that will travel around the affected provinces. The campaign is aimed at all citizens, although special and primary attention will be given to pregnant women or elderly people who are in isolation or suffer from serious chronic illnesses. 

The commission in charge of this issue will also provide food aid and blankets to the selected locations, under the supervision of the contribution of civil society in these areas. In addition, shelter and relief services, care for people living in extreme poverty or on the streets, and helicopter platforms have been provided to support and be fully prepared in case of an emergency situation or even surgery. Firewood and stoves will also be distributed to those who want to use them and are interested.

The government has anticipated the problems posed by this weather phenomenon with proactive measures. Khalid Aït Taleb, Minister of Health and Social Protection, says his department is aware of the situation and has set up the so-called "Riaya" operation, which will be allocated almost a billion dirhams.

The main objective is to meet the needs of the populations that will be affected, where local health services will be available, in addition to a multiplication of medical services in mobile units. At the same time, medical campaigns and emergency hospitals will be set up to attend to the most urgent cases. 648 health centres in these areas will be affected, and the main mission is therefore to try to make available as much medical equipment as possible. 

To this end, the ministry has mobilised a total of almost 2,500 health professionals who will have at their disposal the necessary material for each intervention. Similarly, the ministry's central services will contribute six million dirhams from the exceptional budget, in addition to 1.7 million dirhams to cover the cost of fuel and maintenance of the mobile units. An appeal has also been made to all local authorities, elected bodies, the private sector, and various associations and organisations to help in the field of health to make the operation a success and avoid any problems arising from it.