Al-Haouz earthquake: 51,300 families benefiting from financial assistance until March 13

Hibapress

A total of 51,300 families were able to benefit, as of March 13, from financial assistance for the reconstruction and upgrading of homes that totally or partially collapsed during the Al-Haouz earthquake, indicated the Department of head of government in a press release.

These families thus benefited from an amount of 20,000 dirhams as the first tranche, for a total envelope of more than 1 billion dirhams, on the basis of a clear and transparent procedure via a digital platform which brings together the all stakeholders, specifies the press release made public at the end of the 9th meeting of the Interministerial Commission responsible for the deployment of the program for the reconstruction and development of areas affected by the Al Haouz earthquake, chaired Friday in Rabat by the Chief of the Aziz Akhannouch government.

The commission, which made it possible to examine the progress of the implementation of this program in accordance with the High Directives of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, also recorded the launch of the payment operation of the second tranche of the direct aid relating to the reconstruction of housing (40,000 DH) and their upgrading (20,000 DH), said the same source, noting that the local authorities and the commissions concerned are continuing their efforts aimed at enabling the population whose housing has been damaged to benefit from rigorous support.

During this meeting, Mr. Akhannouch affirmed that all the government departments concerned mobilized behind His Majesty the King, may God help him, and made considerable efforts to overcome the fallout of the earthquake, to proceed reconstruction with the necessary seriousness and diligence and to contribute to initiating a dynamic of economic, social and cultural development of the disaster areas.

Regarding damaged housing, the press release notes that a total of 42,047 authorizations have been granted for reconstruction work and 8,694 damaged housing units are currently in the reconstruction and upgrading phase, adding that the commission also highlighted the progress made on the ground in terms of clearing, operations involving 15,232 homes.

Furthermore, the necessary studies having been completed, restoration work will be launched on several historical archaeological sites damaged by the earthquake. These are the Saadian tombs, the El Badii palace, the Bahia palace, the Ait Ben Haddou kasbah and Ksar Taourirt, assured the same source.

In relation to the agricultural sector, the commission examined the progress of the distribution operation of 300,000 quintals of barley, which has so far benefited 41,387 farmers in the disaster areas.

Furthermore, the operation to distribute free heads of cattle to affected breeders, launched last January, is continuing with the aim of distributing 70,000 heads of cattle.

As for the education sector, the commission examined the upcoming launch of the demolition and clearance operation at the level of 236 schools, after the finalization of the technical studies and the related specifications, with a view to allow the reconstruction of these educational establishments which will reopen their doors to students in these regions.

As for the health sector, the commission took note of the progress of the upgrade of 42 priority health centers, work on which was launched last January, the press release concludes.