HIBAPRESS
The Moroccan Organization for Human Rights has called on the government to declare the areas most affected by the floods that have swept through vast areas of northern Morocco, especially the city of Ksar El Kebir, as "disaster areas," in order to activate compensation mechanisms and urgent financial support, and to ensure access for the affected residents to essential services under conditions that respect their human dignity.
In a statement, the organization expressed its humanitarian and human rights concerns regarding the difficult conditions left by these unprecedented floods, as a result of harsh climatic conditions, which caused serious material damage and the evacuation of tens of thousands of citizens from their homes to safer areas. In return, the organization appreciated the proactive intervention of the public authorities, along with the efforts of the Royal Armed Forces, the Civil Protection teams, the Royal Gendarmerie, and National Security, whether through air and land rescue operations or through the transfer of residents to temporary shelter centers, considering that these interventions contributed to avoiding casualties and preserving the right to life. The organization called for ensuring the continuity of the right to education, by activating distance learning, in addition to in-person education within shelter centers, for the benefit of students affected by the suspension of studies. It also stressed the need to provide urgent assistance within the shelter centers, including food, health care, and psychological support, with special attention to vulnerable groups, including children, women, and people with disabilities, in addition to supporting agricultural areas whose crops have been severely damaged. In the same context, the organization urged digital media and users of social networks to be accurate and responsible in circulating news, to avoid the spread of false news that may negatively affect the psychological security of citizens, especially flood victims. It also demanded the opening of a national subscription to collect donations with the participation of citizens and the public and private sectors, to support the humanitarian efforts made for the benefit of the affected, while at the same time calling for the development of a comprehensive national plan for climate risk management, including the assessment of water infrastructure, strengthening early warning and monitoring mechanisms, and improving rapid intervention capabilities, in line with the climate changes that Morocco is witnessing.
