Morocco Announces Major Flood Relief Plan
Floods have displaced nearly 190,000 people and submerged over 110,000 hectares of farmland in Morocco’s northwestern regions. The prime minister’s office revealed that the government plans to invest 3 billion dirhams ($330 million) into infrastructure repairs and support for flood-affected residents, farmers, and businesses.
The torrential rain from several weeks has inundated numerous villages and Ksar El Kebir, a city in Morocco’s northwest. Government officials have declared these municipalities as disaster areas, citing official figures that 188,000 individuals were displaced by the floods, which submerged 110,000 hectares of farmland.
To support those affected, the government has allocated 1.7 billion dirhams to repair basic infrastructure, including roads and hydro-agricultural networks. The remainder will be used for rehousing survivors, reconstructing damaged homes, aiding small businesses, and supporting farmers and livestock breeders.
Moroccan authorities, with assistance from the military, have established camps for evacuees in Ksar El Kebir, a city that is now largely deserted due to flooding after its rivers burst their banks. State television has shown footage of rescue operations by helicopters and boats.
Water Minister Nizar Baraka highlighted that the Oued Makhazine dam had reached 160% of capacity before being gradually released downstream as an exception to usual conditions, given the extraordinary inflow levels this winter.
This past winter saw rainfall that was 35% above historical averages since the 1990s and three times higher than in the preceding year. Snow cover in the Atlas and Rif mountains had reached a record of 55,495 square kilometers before decreasing to 23,186 square kilometers. This melting snow has contributed to filling dams at nearly 70% capacity from 27% last winter.
The exceptional rainfall has concluded Morocco’s seven-year drought, leading the country to accelerate investments in desalination facilities.