His Majesty King Mohammed VI chaired this Wednesday at the Royal Palace in Rabat, a working session devoted to the reconstruction and general upgrading program of the regions affected by the Al Haouz earthquake.
Here is a press release from the Royal Cabinet:
” His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist him, chaired this Wednesday at the Royal Palace in Rabat, a working session devoted to the program of reconstruction and general upgrading of the regions affected by the Al Haouz earthquake .
This new working session is a continuation of the High Directives given by the Sovereign during the meetings of September 9 and 14, which laid the foundations for a thoughtful, integrated and ambitious program intended to provide a strong, coherent, rapid and proactive response.
With a global forecast budget estimated at 120 billion dirhams, over a period of five years, the first version of the integrated and multi-sectoral program presented to the Sovereign, covers the six provinces and prefectures affected by the earthquake (Marrakech, Al Haouz, Taroudant, Chichaoua, Azilal and Ouarzazate ) , targeting a population of 4.2 million inhabitants.
Designed according to a logic of convergence and on the basis of a precise diagnosis of needs and an analysis of territorial potential and local actors, this program includes projects aimed, on the one hand, at the reconstruction of housing and the upgrading of level of infrastructure affected, in accordance with the emergency mechanism decided at the meeting of September 14, and on the other hand, the strengthening of socio-economic development in the targeted areas. It is structured around four main components:
Rehousing affected people, rebuilding housing and rehabilitating infrastructure;
Opening up and upgrading territories;
Accelerating the reduction of social deficits, particularly in mountainous areas affected by the earthquake;
Encouraging economic activity and employment as well as promoting local initiatives.
The program also includes, as ordered by His Majesty the King, the establishment, in each region, of a large platform of essential reserves (tents, blankets, beds, medicines, foodstuffs, etc.) in order to deal immediately with natural disasters.
During this working session, His Majesty the King, may God help him, invited the government to implement the vision presented at the level of each of the provinces and prefectures concerned. The Sovereign thus once again insisted on the importance of constantly listening to the local population in order to provide them with appropriate solutions , while giving the necessary importance to the environmental dimension .and ensuring respect for the unique heritage and traditions and lifestyles of each region.
His Majesty the King, may God help him, also insisted on the imperative to demonstrate exemplary governance. The watchwords are speed, efficiency, rigor and convincing results, so that this program of reconstruction and general upgrading of the affected regions becomes a model of integrated and balanced territorial development.
The financing of this major program will be ensured from credits allocated from the general State budget, contributions from local authorities and the Special Solidarity Account.dedicated to managing the effects of the earthquake, as well as through donations and international cooperation .
In this regard, and within the framework of the missions of the Hassan II Fund in terms of supporting the implementation of programs and projects with structuring benefits for economic and social development, His Majesty the King gave His High Instructions so that the Hassan Fund It makes a contribution of 2 billion dirhams to the financing of this program.
Taking part in this working meeting were the Head of Government, Mr. Aziz Akhannouch, the Advisor to HM the King, Mr. Fouad Ali El Himma, the Minister of the Interior, Mr. Abdelouafi Laftit, the Minister of Habous and of Islamic Affairs, Mr. Ahmed Toufiq, the Minister of Economy and Finance, Ms. Nadia Fettah, the Minister of National Territorial Planning, Urban Planning, Housing and Urban Policy, Ms. Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, the Minister Delegate to the Minister of Economy and Finance, in charge of the Budget, Mr. Faouzi Lekjaa, as well as the Lieutenant General, Mohammed Berrid, Inspector General of the FAR and Commander of the South zone.