Rabat — Snowfall will continue to hit several Moroccan provinces, including Al Haouz, which was struck by a devastating earthquake in September 2023.
According to a new orange level weather alert, Morocco’s General Directorate of Meteorology expects snowfall of 5 to 15 centimeters to hit several provinces at elevations exceeding 1,800 meters on Monday and Tuesday.
Around 10 and 15 centimeters of snowfall are expected in the provinces of Azilal, Beni Mellal, Midelt, Tinghir, Ouarzazate, and Al Haouz.
The same weather, with 5 to 10 centimeters, is expected during the same days in the provinces of Ifrane, Boulemane, Taroudant, and Chichaoua.
The weather will add to the stress and concerns shared by many as videos went viral online showcasing the hardship that Moroccans in Al Haouz are experiencing amid freezing weather due to the snowfall.
Viral videos show heavy snowfall blanketing tents in Al Haouz, which has been under reconstruction after the intense earthquake that struck the region — killing at least 3,000 people.
Around 5,000 also sustained injuries, and many families lost their homes, while others were partially destroyed.
In response, Morocco allocated a fund in which Moroccans, Moroccan companies, and many donors contributed to help mitigate the earthquake crisis.
In January of last year, the government said that 56,000 families in areas affected by the Al Haouz disaster have benefited from financial aid allocated to rebuild and rehabilitate their damaged homes.
The government said that they have reached a completion rate of 95% with a total budget of approximately MAD 1.4 billion.
Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch said the number of construction permits granted to targeted families exceeds 53,000 permits, representing 90% of the population surveyed in the provinces of Al Haouz, Chichaoua, Marrakech, Taroudant, Azilal, and Ouarzazate.
