Rabat – The government has launched a program to rehabilitate the areas affected by the devastating floods that struck the city of Safi on Sunday. The program follows instructions from King Mohammed VI, according to a statement from the government.
The program includes a set of emergency measures to reduce the immediate impact of the disaster. These measures include urgent financial and material aid for families who lost their personal belongings, as well as the repair of damaged homes through necessary restoration works.
The program also provides for the reconstruction, rehabilitation, and redesign of affected commercial shops, along with support for their owners, in line with the Royal directives to protect citizens’ dignity, ensure decent living conditions, and strengthen resilience, added the statement.
The government stated that human and logistical resources have been fully mobilized, with strengthened coordination among all relevant stakeholders.
Local authorities are expected to begin implementing the planned measures in the coming days to ensure an urgent and efficient intervention, respond quickly to residents’ needs, and guarantee the gradual and proper execution of the program’s different components, concluded the statement.
The coastal city of Safi saw unusually heavy rain over the weekend, leading to devastating floods that claimed the lives of at least 37 people and caused significant material damage to several neighborhoods, homes, commercial premises, and basic infrastructure.
Morocco opened an investigation to determine the real reasons behind the devastation the floods left behind, with citizens calling for accountability and for better disaster preparedness.
Several locals complained about the marginalization of Safi’s old market, where they have long complained about clogged drainage systems, inadequate maintenance, and the vulnerability of low-lying historic areas.