Bad weather causes devastation in Morocco

2009-02-06

Flooding and heavy snowfalls left several regions of Morocco devastated and affected hundreds of families. Government authorities are responding to the disaster.

By Sarah Touahri for Magharebia in Rabat – 06/02/09

[Getty Images] Heavy rains, snow turn deadly in Morocco.

Freak weather conditions continue to cause devastation in Morocco as authorities struggle to address the humanitarian crisis. A number of people have lost their lives, mainly in the countryside and in mountainous regions and areas near rivers and dams.

In all, 14 people have died since January 31st after their houses collapsed under snow and torrential rain. Hundreds of families have been left homeless.

A total of 56,000 hectares are under water in the fertile agricultural region of the Gharb.

Flooding in Oued Beht submerged around 7,000 hectares of land and 12 villages inhabited by 5,000 people. It also affected 1,900 homes in Sidi Slimane, with 300 adobe houses partly or fully collapsing. Four schools and a community health centre were also hit by the floods.

The government said the country may not be over the worst of the bad weather and the authorities have warned of the threat of further floods, especially along Oued Sebou.

"The exceptional rainfall that has occurred over the last 48 hours has led to significant run-off and has caused some dams to exceed their maximum capacities," a statement by Ministry of the Interior said on Wednesday (February 4th).

Facing public accusations of being ill pre-prepared, government officials tried to get on top of the situation, announcing that a committee tasked with dealing with the aftermath of the bad weather was set up.

Local authorities said they were doing all they could to help the victims. Over 400 tents and 4,000 blankets have been distributed, and ambulances, water bowsers, boats and dinghies with motor-driven pumps to pump away water and generators were sent in by the Civil Protection Agency. Members of the Auxiliary Forces were deployed to work alongside emergency response teams.

Interior Minister Chakib Benmoussa said during a cabinet meeting in Rabat on Thursday that the authorities set up accommodation centres and installed electricity generators. They have also provided logistical and human support, especially for the purpose of providing medical assistance to the victims.

"As part of a plan to ward off any future problems, the public authorities have set up monitoring committees at the central, regional and local levels," Benmoussa said.

The devastation was much worse in rural areas, where homes are unable to withstand the effects of heavy flooding and snowfalls. Mohamed Telmsani, who lives in Taza, an area affected by the bad weather, said the authorities should have taken precautions by evacuating people living in high-risk villages.

"A lot of families lost their belongings and everything they had," he added. "The state should look after them."

"Every night I’m terrified that I’ll get caught up in the bad weather. We’re anxious for a lasting solution that will allow us to live here permanently and without fear," sixteen-year-old Fatima told Magharebia.

Minister of Housing and Urbanism Ahmed Toufik Hjira said that a monitoring committee is looking at ways of providing new housing for the families affected by the floods.