Lafite Reveals the Dismantling of 34,000 Tents and Progress in Reconstruction in “Al-Haouz Earthquake” Areas
Abdelouafi Laftit, the Minister of Interior, has revealed updated statistics regarding the situation of temporary shelters in the earthquake-affected areas, indicating that out of 35,532 tents set up following the earthquake, regional and local authorities managed to dismantle 34,048 units, representing 95.8%. Currently, only 1,484 tents remain, sheltering a total of 6,384 individuals in exceptional situations with specific challenges.
In response to a question posed by parliamentary member Fatima Tamani, Laftit confirmed that "the relevant authorities have completed the reconstruction or reinforcement of 17,076 housing units, which is 65.1% of the total 26,263 damaged homes."
The government official pointed out that there are "4,659 additional housing units at advanced stages of completion, with completion rates ranging from 50% to 75%, meaning that more than 82% of the damaged homes have surpassed the halfway point of reconstruction."
Laftit also ruled out "any restriction on the victims’ freedom of expression," stating: "Clear instructions have been given to all local authorities to facilitate the work of journalists and allow citizens to express their opinions freely. A special unit has been established to respond to journalists’ inquiries and assist them in the field, as well as to receive complaints from victims regarding any potential abuses, which are addressed decisively."
Due to the difficult living conditions, especially with some tents deteriorating, Laftit noted that "regional authorities, local authorities, and reputable associations have replaced some damaged tents with more resilient mobile housing units (for populations that only recently began construction on their homes, amounting to over 1,506 housing units), while enhancing infrastructure at temporary accommodation sites to improve living conditions and providing water, electricity, and sanitary facilities, as well as intensifying psychological and social support for affected families."
The Minister of Interior mentioned that "an regional committee has been formed to accelerate the pace of reconstruction and monitor delayed cases, with a clear timeline set to complete 22,000 homes by June 2025, and to finish all damaged homes where owners have committed to the construction process by the end of the following month in 2025."
According to the Minister’s response, "a specialized unit has also been created to study and address stalled cases, particularly those related to legal and administrative issues, with procedures simplified to expedite the resolution of pending files, in addition to allocating emergency funding for families that only recently began construction on their homes due to force majeure, many of whom still reside in tents and mobile housing units, with priority given to vulnerable groups, the elderly, and people with disabilities."
"Investigations have also been conducted into any complaints against local officials, whether they are authority figures, assistants, or elected representatives, with appropriate disciplinary action taken in case of any proven abuses, as well as contractors through initiating legal proceedings," according to the same source.
On the economic front, Abdelouafi Laftit reported "the launch of a project to rehabilitate National Road 07 linking Marrakech to Taroudant, which is a vital artery connecting the affected areas with major cities," emphasizing that the aim is "to expedite the transportation of construction materials to speed up the pace of reconstruction."
As for the rebuilding and rehabilitation of public institutions and facilities damaged by the earthquake, 400 institutions have been rehabilitated; 155 additional institutions are in the reconstruction phase, and 339 others have initiated administrative procedures related to reconstruction or reinforcement, while 345 other institutions have yet to begin these procedures.
The same source clarified that the total number of public institutions and facilities affected by the earthquake reached 1,239, including 611 mosques, 455 educational institutions, and 43 healthcare facilities.
