HIBAPRESS: Following the exceptional weather disturbances that the Kingdom witnessed during the past two months, especially in the Gharb and Loukkos plains, His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God protect him, based on the constant care with which His Majesty surrounds his subjects and his keenness on their safety and improving their living conditions, gave his high instructions to the government to develop a large-scale program for assistance and support for affected families and residents, and to take the necessary organizational measures in such circumstances.
A statement from the Prime Minister's Office stated that a program for assistance and support has been decided, with an estimated budget of three billion dirhams, which was prepared based on a thorough and in-depth assessment of the field situation, as well as on a careful study of the economic and social repercussions of these weather disturbances. The program is based on the following main axes: – Assistance for resettlement, loss of income, rehabilitation of damaged housing and small businesses, as well as rebuilding collapsed homes, with a total amount of 775 million dirhams. – In-kind assistance and others to enhance emergency field interventions, in order to meet the basic and immediate needs of the population, amounting to 225 million dirhams. – Assistance directed to farmers and livestock breeders with an amount of 300 million dirhams. – Investments for the rehabilitation of road and hydro-agricultural infrastructure and the rehabilitation of basic networks, amounting to 1.7 billion dirhams. On the other hand, His Majesty, may God protect him, gave his high instructions to the government to implement this program efficiently, quickly and with a sense of responsibility, enabling the citizens of the affected areas to return to their normal lives as soon as possible. It is worth noting that the exceptional weather disturbances that the Kingdom experienced caused floods that swept over 110 thousand hectares, and led to the evacuation of about 188 thousand people in the provinces of Larache, Kenitra, Sidi Kacem and Sidi Slimane.
