On 14 September 2023, His Majesty King Mohammed VI chaired a working meeting devoted to “activating the emergency program for rehousing” disaster victims and caring for the categories most affected by the Al Haouz earthquake.
This meeting follows on from the measures ordered by the Sovereign, aimed at mobilizing all resources, with the “necessary speed and efficiency”, to “come to the aid of the families and citizens affected by the earthquake”, and in particular to deploy as quickly as possible the “rehabilitation and reconstruction” measures in the localities affected by this natural disaster of unprecedented proportions.
This first version of the rehousing program covers around 50,000 totally or partially collapsed homes in the five provinces affected.
The Sovereign drew the attention of the competent authorities to the extremely high priority of the rehousing operation, which must be carried out under the necessary conditions of fairness and constant attention to the needs of the populations concerned.
The program also consists of immediate reconstruction measures, to be implemented after the preliminary surveys and the preparatory and stabilization work on the land. To this end, “direct financial aid of 140,000 dirhams is planned for totally collapsed dwellings and 80,000 dirhams to cover rehabilitation work on partially collapsed dwellings”.
His Majesty the King also insisted on the need for the reconstruction operation to be carried out on the basis of “specifications and under technical and architectural supervision in harmony with the region’s heritage” and to respect its unique architectural features.
It consists, on the one hand, of emergency temporary rehousing measures, in particular through adapted forms of accommodation on site and in structures designed to withstand the cold and bad weather; or in adapted reception sites with all the necessary amenities.
In addition, the State will grant emergency aid of 30,000 dirhams to the households concerned.
In addition, during the same working session, His Majesty King Mohammed VI reiterated his High Instructions that the “response should be strong, swift and proactive”, while respecting the “dignity of the people, their customs and traditions and their heritage”. The measures must not only work to repair the damage caused by the earthquake, but also to launch a well thought-out, integrated and ambitious program for the reconstruction and general upgrading of the affected regions, both in terms of reinforcing infrastructures and improving the quality of public services.
This multi-faceted program will mainly mobilize the State’s own financial resources and those of public bodies, and will also be open to contributions from private players and associations, as well as from brotherly and friendly countries that so wish, to whom His Majesty the King reiterates, on this occasion, the Kingdom of Morocco’s most sincere thanks.
During this meeting, His Majesty the King, may God assist Him, also raised an equally crucial priority, namely the “immediate care of orphaned children who today find themselves without family or resources. The Sovereign has asked that these children be registered and granted the status of pupil of the nation.
His Majesty King Mohammed VI has therefore ordered the government to pass the necessary draft legislation as soon as possible, in order to get them out of this situation of distress and protect them from all the risks and forms of fragility to which they may unfortunately be exposed after a natural disaster.
Through the vision and action of its Sovereign, Morocco is once again demonstrating its characteristic resilience, which enables it to face trials and challenges with strength, wisdom and determination, thanks to the strength of its institutions and the solidarity and generosity of its people.