Morocco mobilises to cope with the cold snap
On the instructions of King Mohammed VI, the services of the Ministry of Interior have been mobilised, along with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection and the administrations concerned, to take emergency measures and provide support and assistance to citizens; in order to cope with the cold wave affecting several regions of Morocco.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of the Interior, the walis of the regions and the governors of the provinces are responsible for monitoring the evolution of the situation, coordinating intervention operations and taking the necessary proactive and preventive measures to alleviate the burden on the population in the areas affected by the cold wave.
A global mobilisation at the service of the citizen
Within the framework of the national winter season plan 2024-2025, a Monitoring and Surveillance Centre has been set up at the level of the Ministry of the Interior, on the one hand, and Provincial Monitoring and Surveillance Commissions, on the other hand. The objective is to increase the number of beneficiary douars (small villages) to 185 additional douars, with a special focus on the populations of the earthquake-affected areas of Al-Haouz, as well as the flood-affected areas of southern Morocco.
The plan targets a total population of nearly 872,778 inhabitants, grouped into 169,134 households and residing in 2,014 douars spread over 241 territorial communes in 28 prefectures and provinces. Faced with this situation, the Ministry of the Interior, through its central and provincial services, is reinforcing its capacity to intervene according to the circumstances, through a series of measures relating to the monitoring and continuous evaluation of the situation on the ground.
Ensuring the normal supply of the affected regions with basic necessities and various means of heating, the unblocking of roads threatened with closure and the distribution of food aid, blankets and firewood to the population in need of humanitarian assistance in the affected provinces are the aim of the ministerial intervention plan to deal with the cold snap.
It also aims to ensure immediate interventions in favour of the populations in critical and emergency situations, the continuity of the connection of the affected areas to the road and telephone networks, and to guarantee the supply and distribution of fodder in the affected areas.
The Ministry of the Interior reaffirms, in compliance with the royal instructions, to launch the necessary support and assistance operations to deal with the possible damage that may result from the bad weather conditions. It has therefore mobilised all the logistical means and resources necessary to ensure the safety of citizens and their property.
Continuation of operation ‘Riaya 2024-2025’
As part of efforts to ensure the continuity of health and social services and their proximity to the inhabitants, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection has launched operation ‘Riaya 2024-2025’, in accordance with royal instructions, in order to provide the necessary care to the populations of the areas affected by the cold snap.
The operation runs from 15 November 2024 to 30 March 2025 and targets the population of mountainous and remote regions in 31 provinces spread over 8 regions of the Moroccan kingdom.
‘Riaya 2024-2025’ aims to ensure an adequate response to the health needs of populations living in areas affected by the cold wave and remote rural areas, through proximity health services, curative care and awareness-raising at the level of health centres.
This initiative also envisages consolidating the activities of mobile medical units at the level of the meeting points of these populations; this makes it possible to manage emergency cases and ensure the care of identified cases through specialised medical campaigns.
The operation also aims to ensure the availability of human resources, equipment, medicines and health products in 591 health centres, and to organise 3,552 visits to mobile medical units in remote areas and gathering points of the affected population, in addition to 196 caravans and specialised medical campaigns to provide medical care to patients.
In order to ensure the smooth running and success of the operation, the following have been mobilised:
- Significant human and logistical resources.
- Health professionals, including doctors, pharmacists, nurses, administrators and technicians.
- Hospital staff engaged in medical caravans.
- Medical and biomedical equipment, including mobile sonographers.
- Medical testing laboratories, dental chairs, visual acuity devices.
- Substantial means of transport, including 52 mobile trucks, 164 mobile health units distributed in the affected provinces and 324 ambulances.
- A sufficient and varied stock of medicines and medical supplies.
- Accommodation, food, fuel and maintenance of mobile units.