Morocco announces $28 Million plan to alleviate damage caused by recent wildfires

The Moroccan government announced a $28.3 million plan to mitigate the impact of the recent wildfires on agricultural activity and forests and on livelihoods.

Pursuant to the instructions of the King, the Head of Government, Aziz Akhannouch chaired, on Friday in Rabat, the signing ceremony of a framework agreement for the implementation of a series of urgent measures worth $28.3 million aimed at mitigating the impact of the recent fires that damaged this July thousands of hectares of lands in several regions, affecting agricultural activity and local populations.

The agreement, signed by several cabinet members, including Minister of Economy Nadia Fettah Alaoui and Minister of Agriculture Mohamed Sadiki, includes short-and medium-term measures that seek to provide support to local people, whose homes and livelihoods were affected by the recent wildfires.

Under the plan, assistance will be granted for refurbishing the burnt dwellings, operations for the reforestation of some 9,330 hectares will be launched, and affected fruit trees will be restored. Assistance will also be granted to breeders and beekeepers in the affected regions.

The plan also provides for strengthening the means of preventing and fighting new fires and the creation of 1,000 additional job opportunities in the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima Region, dedicated to the people affected by the wildfires and their family members to work in the Awrach program sites.

Aziz Akhannouch called on government stakeholders to ensure the immediate implementation of the announced emergency measures to mitigate the impact of the fires on agriculture activities and forests.

The wildfires have been caused by many factors, including drought, gusts of wind, and the recent heat waves that affected several parts of Morocco, including Larache, Ouazzane, Chefchaouen, Tetouan, Taza and Al Hoceima.