Prosper Okoye
The Morocco government has approved a 3bn dirham ($330m) emergency package to support communities in its northern provinces after weeks of unusually heavy rainfall triggered widespread flooding.
In a statement on Thursday, the royal palace said King Mohammed VI had ordered a “broad support programme for affected families and communities” across Larache, Kenitra, Sidi Kacem and Sidi Slimane, which have been declared disaster zones.
The funds will be used to repair damaged roads, irrigation systems and other agricultural infrastructure, relocate displaced families, compensate residents who have lost income and rebuild flooded homes and businesses. Farmers are also to receive targeted support to restore production.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelExceptional rainfall since late January has inundated more than 110,000 hectares of farmland and forced about 188,000 people from their homes, according to official figures. At the weekend, four people were killed in Tetouan when a flash flood swept away their vehicle, with one passenger still missing.
The Gharb and Loukkos river basins — among Morocco’s most productive farming areas, supplying cereals, livestock, red fruits, vegetables and sugar beet for export — have borne the brunt of the deluge. Between 11 January and 11 February, water inflows reached 8.82bn cubic metres, almost matching the total recorded over the previous two years combined.
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Officials said the emergency programme is designed to meet immediate humanitarian needs while restoring critical infrastructure and helping the region’s farmers and residents recover in the longer term.
Prosper Okoye is a Correspondent and Research Writer at Prime Business Africa, a Nigerian journalist with experience in development reporting, public affairs, and policy-focused storytelling across Africa
