Al-Haouz Earthquake: Mr. Akhannouch chairs the 11th meeting of the Inter-ministerial Commission in charge of the reconstruction and development program for disaster-affected areas

by times news cr

This meeting allowed to note a significant positive progress in the implementation of this program at the level of all sectors, in application of the High Instructions of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God Assist Him, indicates a press release from the department of the head of government.

Mr. Akhannouch recalled, during this meeting, the enlightened directives of His Majesty the King thanks to which the Kingdom was able to respond quickly and effectively to deal with the repercussions of this natural disaster.

He also welcomed the general mobilization as well as the positive and continuous pace of sectoral interventions in application of the High Royal Directives, stressing that the government is continuing with dynamism and commitment the implementation of the various projects aimed at the reconstruction of housing and the rehabilitation of affected infrastructure.

The commission stressed that the State has put in place all the conditions to facilitate the operation of reconstruction and rehabilitation of damaged housing, with the necessary efficiency and speed, through financial support for families and the provision of reconstruction permits and free technical support.

The commission thus reported the allocation of 55,142 reconstruction permits and the progress of reconstruction and rehabilitation projects at the level of 49,632 damaged housing units. The interventions on the ground for the clearing of public buildings and collapsed housing units concerned a total of 46,352 constructions, just as specific solutions are being deployed on the ground for difficult cases, the press release specifies.

In the same context, the commission recorded that 57,805 families received an amount of 20,000 dirhams as a first payment for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of their homes, for an envelope of 1.2 billion DH. It was thus noted that 97% of the disaster-stricken families were able to benefit from the support.

In addition, 20,763 families received the second payment, 8,813 families received the third payment and 939 families received the fourth and final payment.

In this regard, the committee welcomed the completion by nearly 1,000 families of the reconstruction and rehabilitation work on their homes, with the need to encourage the rest of the families concerned to speed up their work in order to benefit from the other phases of the payment under the support.

Regarding urgent aid to families, the commission established that 63,862 families received the amount of 2,500 dirhams as monthly support for families whose homes were totally or partially collapsed, noting that 11 monthly payments out of a total of 12 have been paid so far as this aid, for a total amount of 1.6 billion DH.

Regarding the upgrading of the N7 national road over a length of 64 km, the committee noted the progress of the works on the four axes making up the road, for a total amount of 665 million DH, after the award of contracts relating to the upgrading projects, starting with the road linking Tizi N’Tast to Tafingoult in the province of Taroudant, over a length of 30 km, divided into two sections. The first of 8 km whose works are currently at an advanced stage after their start last April and the second of 22 km whose works were launched at the beginning of July, the same source added.

The committee also noted the good progress of the upgrading works of the road linking Ouirgane to Tlat N’Yacoub in the province of Al-Haouz, which is carried out in two sections over a length of 34 km. The works relating to the first section of 17 km were launched on June 24, followed by the works on a second section of 17 km launched on July 18.

The meeting was also an opportunity for the commission to note the completion of the implementation of several sectoral projects included in the reconstruction and development programme for disaster-stricken areas.

Regarding the health sector, it was noted that the upgrading works of 42 priority health centers have been completed for a total budget of 168 million DH. These are 27 centers in the Marrakech-Safi region, 14 centers in the Souss-Massa region and one center in the Beni Mellal-Khénifra region.

In the agricultural sector, the operation of free distribution of livestock to affected breeders will be completed during this month of September. 28,000 livestock have already been distributed, which covers all the needs of affected breeders. The barley distribution operation has also been completed, with the distribution of 353,830 quintals of barley to 48,581 farmers.

The commission also noted the completion of the operation to rehabilitate 54 km of rural roads, while the operation to restore small and medium-sized hydraulic systems has currently reached a level of completion of 97%.

Regarding the water sector, the committee noted the continuation of programs to repair damaged hydraulic infrastructure at a cost of 117 million DH. These programs include restoring damage to 43 hydrological stations, damage to drinking water distribution networks, in addition to the construction and equipment of new boreholes and wells in the disaster-stricken provinces and the rehabilitation of dam-related infrastructure.

In the education sector, the commission noted that 111 schools will be ready to welcome students for the current school year, after the completion of rehabilitation works. In addition, 110 schools will be put into service during this school year, pending the completion of works at 1,287 schools to welcome students before the start of the 2025-2026 school year.

It should be noted that the overall cost of the rehabilitation and reconstruction programs for the various damaged schools is approximately 3.5 billion dirhams.

For the tourism sector, the commission examined 238 requests for financial support, out of a total of 355 requests submitted by tourist reception establishments classified as damaged following the earthquake, for a total budget of 144 MDH.

In this regard, 148 establishments were able to benefit from the first tranche of aid, for a budget of 48 MDH. The payment of the second tranche under this aid has been launched, benefiting so far two tourist reception establishments for an amount of 3.8 MDH.

The commission also examined 1,155 files for support for craft workshops for a total budget of 78 million dirhams. Under the first tranche of support, 10 million dirhams were paid to 1,047 craftsmen. Payments for the second tranche have begun, benefiting 105 craftsmen for an amount of 1 million dirhams.

She finally noted the continuation of rehabilitation work on several walls and archaeological sites damaged by the earthquake, as part of efforts to preserve and enhance the national heritage.

The interministerial commission responsible for the reconstruction and general rehabilitation program for the areas affected by the Al-Haouz earthquake assures its commitment to continue the action according to the same approach, based on model governance, made of speed, efficiency and precision, in order to establish this program as a model of integrated and balanced territorial development, in application of the High Directives of HM King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, during the working sessions chaired by the Sovereign on September 9 and 14, 2023.

2024-09-08 03:24:25

You may also like

Leave a Comment