Head of Government, Aziz Akhannouch, chaired on Tuesday in Rabat the 10th meeting of the Interministerial Commission in charge of the reconstruction and general rehabilitation program for areas affected by the Al-Haouz earthquake, focusing on the review of progress in implementing this program.
During the meeting, Akhannouch called on the various ministerial departments to continue mobilizing and to demonstrate the necessary celerity and rigor, in order to meet the aspirations of the stricken local population, says a press release from the Department of the Head of Government.
He also emphasized on the compliance with architectural and town-planning standards and the use of quality building materials that meet safety requirements, while speeding up the upgrading of various services vital to the population, particularly schools and health facilities.
By the end of May 2024, 56,607 families had received an initial payment of 20,000 dirhams to help rebuild homes that had totally or partially collapsed, out of a total budget of 1.1 billion dirhams and a 95% completion rate.
Similarly, 6,927 families received the second instalment of aid for the reconstruction of collapsed housing, for a budget of 122 million dirhams, and 872 families benefited from the third instalment, for a budget of 11 million.
The Commission also noted that 63,363 families benefited from the monthly assistance of 2,500 dirhams until the end of May 2024, for a budget of some 1.2 billion dirhams.
As part of the rigorous support that local authorities and the relevant Commissions are providing to the affected population, 51,031 reconstruction authorizations have been granted to affected families, out of a total of 53,084 applications submitted, with a completion rate of 86%.
The meeting highlighted the clearing operations carried out in the field, involving a total of 43,084 dwellings, to which the Ministry of the Interior, through its National Promotion officers, and the Ministry of Equipment and Water contributed.
Clearance operations are also underway at 248 schools to enable reconstruction work to begin.
The commission also noted the progress of upgrading work on the 8 km section of National Road 7 between Tizi N’Tast and Tafingoult, adds the press release.
It also took note of the awarding of contracts for projects on several other trunk roads, with a view to launching work. These include the road linking Ouirgane to Tlat N’Yacoub in the province of Al-Haouz, which will be built in two sections over a length of 34 km at a cost of 176 and 195 million dirhams respectively, as well as the road section linking Tizi N’Tast to Tafingoult in the province of Taroudant, over a length of 22 km and at a cost of 178 million dirhams.
In the agricultural sector, 353,830 quintals of barley had been distributed by the end of May to 48,581 farmers in affected areas.
The operation to distribute free livestock to affected farmers, launched in January, is continuing with the distribution of 12,180 head of cattle, with a view to reaching a total of 70,000 head.
In addition, 126 kilometers of small and medium hydraulic canals have been developed, with a completion rate of 75%, while the upgrading of 54 kilometers of rural roads is progressing at a rate of 88%.
In the health sector, the Commission examined the progress of work to upgrade 42 priority health centers, launched last January. Work on these structures will be completed by the end of July.
The Commission also examined the processing of 225 requests for the rehabilitation of hotel structures damaged by the earthquake, for a total budget of 128 million dirhams. Of these, 115 have already benefited from the first instalment, for a budget of 44 million dirhams.
Lastly, the Commission approved the launch of restoration work on several damaged historic walls.
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