Morocco’s interior minister said authorities have completed two key flood protection projects in Boulemane province and revised a delayed partnership agreement to accelerate additional works aimed at safeguarding vulnerable communities.
In a written response to a parliamentary question from lawmaker Rachid Hamouni, Abdelouafi Laftit outlined progress under a partnership agreement to finance and implement projects protecting flood-prone centers and villages in Boulemane Province.
Laftit said two major projects have been finalized: the protection of Douar Ait Ayat from flooding under the supervision of the Sebou Basin Agency, and the protection of the center of the commune of Ait Bazza, overseen by the Moulouya Basin Agency.
He added that provincial authorities have made significant progress and undertaken “exceptional efforts” in close coordination with stakeholders to overcome obstacles and move forward with the broader agreement to protect several at-risk communities in the province.
According to the minister, the projects reflect recognition of their urgent nature and their vital role in protecting residents and infrastructure. He stressed the importance of incorporating lessons learned from recent floods in other parts of the country and updating preventive approaches accordingly.
Provincial services, he said, are working to institutionalize a proactive and integrated strategy aimed at shielding the province from similar climate risks and ensuring the highest levels of protection for its population.
Addressing delays in implementing the partnership agreement, Laftit attributed the setback to the failure of the Ministry of Equipment and Water to sign a previous amendment. To resolve the issue, a new addendum has been prepared, revising three articles of the original agreement to introduce what he described as a more realistic and specialized framework.
Under the revised Article 7, the Ministry of Equipment and Water will directly execute projects across 10 villages within the limits of its financial contribution of 40.73 million dirhams (about $4 million). The Sebou and Moulouya basin agencies have been designated as delegated project owners for the remaining projects, given their technical expertise in hydraulic infrastructure.
Laftit said authorities will ensure that all necessary efforts are made to implement the agreement effectively and complete the remaining works in a timely manner.
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