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Rabat – Morocco’s Education Minister Chakib Benmoussa reported today that the program for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of schools affected by the earthquake that struck the Al Haouz region last year has “achieved significant levels of competition.”
Benmoussa made his remarks today in Rabat during a press conference on the 2024-2025 academic year.
“We no longer have students under tents or students in boarding schools outside the province,” he said, noting the ministry’s one of the ministry’s primary goals was to work out a way of ensuring the education of children despite the challenges facing their communities.
He also recalled teachers’ mobilization in the region, saying that this inspired solutions to allow students to resume classes.
Benmoussa further detailed the ministry’s efforts to ensure and improve study conditions while taking into account the harsh weather conditions in the earthquake affected areas.
The minister’s remarks come amid heightened concerns as the Al Haouz region and nearby areas have in recent weeks and days grappled with heavy rainfall.
Morocco’s weather office has issued several weather alerts in this regard, including two in which the meteorology directorate forecasted very heavy thunderstorms that will hit the region, starting today until Sunday.
Converging news reports have in recent days voiced the complaints of Al Haouz residents, with many of the region’s battered populations expressing frustration at their alarming vulnerability in the aftermath of last year’s devastating earthquake.
Read also: Al Haouz Earthquake Triggers Unprecedented Increase in Moroccan Generosity
The New Humanitarian quoted citizens from the region in August, appealing for help.
“We understand everyone is focused on Gaza right now, but people have largely forgotten what happened to us,” Hamid Abdellah told the New Humanitarian.
“In our village, 86 houses were damaged. 80 were completely destroyed, and six were partially damaged. Those six were repaired with government aid, but only two houses have been rebuilt,” he added.
Amid the appeal, the Moroccan government pledged continued efforts to address the situation, noting that the reconstruction project is still ongoing.
On Monday, Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch chaired a meeting to discuss the reconstruction program for areas affected by the earthquake.
Akhannouch said that King Mohammed VI’s instructions enabled the country to respond quickly and effectively to the impacts of the quake.
The committee in charge of the reconstruction work also pledged that its government has established all necessary conditions to facilitate the reconstruction and rehabilitation of damaged homes.
It also reported issuing 55,142 reconstruction permits and progress on reconstruction and rehabilitation projects for 49,632 damaged homes.
The devastating earthquake killed at least 3,000 people and injured 5,000 others.
