The rigor to resist disasters

The last two years have provided several lessons in the management of natural disasters. First, the record rainfall recorded in 2021, welcomed with joy by farmers, but which ravaged the infrastructure of several cities in the Kingdom. Then, the forest fires experienced by the Kingdom last year and the current year, the human and material damage of which are significant.

As you will read on these same columns, disasters such as floods, earthquakes or even drought would cost the Kingdom more than 575 million dollars per year. This without forgetting the budgets dedicated to the Integrated Natural Disaster Risk Management and Resilience Program, which exceed $400 million.

Envelopes that risk becoming heavier, since all-out urbanization and climate change risk increasing the frequency and severity of meteorological phenomena. Anticipation, vigilance and disaster risk reduction are therefore of paramount importance for a country like Morocco which, due to its geographical position, remains highly and dangerously exposed to geological and climatic risks. Preventive work that begins with strengthening the resilience of local authorities by providing them, among other things, with infrastructure capable of withstanding disasters, the intensity of which remains minimal in the Kingdom. The establishment of more rigorous specifications for the delegated companies is essential, so that the maintenance and cleaning programs for the networks and structures are up to the level of possible climatic challenges.

And since Morocco, like all countries in the MENA region, is overexposed to the aforementioned risks, the establishment of a more flexible compensation system is necessary. Because yes, the criteria for access to the Solidarity Fund once morest catastrophic events, supposed to be the armed wing of the State to compensate the victims, only exasperate the population in need of help.

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