Morocco has approved a major emergency intervention programme valued at approximately 3 billion dirhams or about 330 million dollars to support communities in the northern part of the country that have been severely affected by weeks of intense flooding. The decision was announced by the government following directives from King Mohammed VI aimed at addressing the humanitarian economic and infrastructure damage caused by the disaster.
The programme targets the northern provinces of Larache Kenitra Sidi Kacem and Sidi Slimane all of which have been officially declared disaster zones. These areas experienced widespread flooding after exceptional rainfall that began in late January and continued into February overwhelming rivers farmland and residential communities.
According to government officials the emergency plan is designed to respond to immediate needs while also supporting long term recovery. A significant portion of the funds will be used to repair damaged roads bridges irrigation canals and other essential infrastructure that was destroyed or weakened by floodwaters. Authorities say restoring transport links and water systems is a priority to ensure affected areas can regain economic activity as quickly as possible.
The programme also includes measures to relocate households that were displaced by the floods and to rehabilitate homes and business premises that suffered damage. Many families were forced to flee their homes as rivers burst their banks and low lying communities were submerged. Financial compensation will be provided to residents who lost income as a result of the flooding with special attention given to farmers and small business owners.
Agriculture has been one of the hardest hit sectors. More than 110000 hectares of land were flooded affecting cereal farms livestock operations and plantations of fruits vegetables and sugar beets. These regions form part of the Gharb and Loukkos river basins which are among Morocco’s most important agricultural zones and play a major role in both domestic food supply and exports.
Government data shows that between January 11 and February 11 water inflows into rivers and reservoirs reached 8.82 billion cubic metres nearly equal to the total recorded over the previous two years combined. Officials described the rainfall as exceptional noting that such volumes placed immense pressure on dams drainage systems and flood control infrastructure.
Nearly 188000 people were displaced across the affected provinces as floodwaters cut off villages and damaged homes. Emergency services carried out evacuations in several areas while local authorities worked to provide temporary shelter and basic assistance to displaced families. Despite these efforts the floods resulted in loss of life. Last weekend four people died in Tetouan after a flash flood swept away their vehicle while one passenger remains missing.
The emergency programme aims to stabilise affected communities and reduce the risk of long term displacement. Support for farmers includes assistance to rehabilitate flooded fields repair damaged equipment and restore irrigation networks to enable the next planting cycle. Officials say these measures are critical to protecting livelihoods and preventing further economic losses in rural areas.
In addition to infrastructure and agricultural support the programme includes social assistance measures to address basic needs such as housing clean water and access to essential services. Vulnerable populations including children the elderly and low income families are expected to receive targeted support during the recovery period.
The floods have once again highlighted the growing impact of extreme weather events in Morocco. In recent years the country has experienced prolonged droughts followed by episodes of intense rainfall increasing pressure on water management systems. While authorities have not directly linked the recent floods to climate change experts have repeatedly warned that climate variability is likely to increase the frequency and severity of such events.
Officials say lessons learned from the current crisis will inform future investments in flood prevention and climate resilience. Planned measures include strengthening riverbanks upgrading drainage infrastructure improving early warning systems and enhancing coordination between national and local authorities during emergencies.
For now the government says its focus remains on immediate relief and reconstruction. Authorities have pledged to closely monitor weather conditions continue support for affected populations and ensure that the emergency funds are deployed efficiently and transparently. As rebuilding efforts begin communities across northern Morocco are hoping the programme will help them recover and rebuild after weeks of disruption and loss.
Africa Live News official platforms
Website https://www.africalivenews.com
X https://x.com/africalivenews2
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Africalivenews
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/africalivenews
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@africalivenews.com
