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Rabat – The number of homes rebuilt following the Al Haouz earthquake has reached 53,648 units as of November 10, the Minister of National Territory Planning, Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, said today at the House of Representatives.
Responding to an oral question on the reconstruction of earthquake-damaged housing in Al Haouz, El Mansouri explained that 53,374 homes are currently at the stage of structural completion, while 55,175 units are in the foundation acceptance phase.
She also noted that 58,945 building permits have been issued by the relevant review committees so far.
Limited but essential rebuilding efforts
Turning to the Direct Housing Support Program, the minister stated that 75,760 citizens have benefited from the initiative.
Of these, 62% received MAD 70,000 ($ 7,530), while 38% were granted MAD 100,000 ($10,760). She added that the average number of beneficiaries per month has risen by 39%, increasing from 2,749 people per month in 2024 to 3,818 at present.
According to El Mansouri, the program has helped respond to housing needs in cities that had previously received limited support from earlier initiatives, including Fez with 13%, Settat with 3%, El Jadida with 4%, Benslimane with 3.5%, Oujda with 3%, and Berkane with 2.6%.
On the economic front, the minister pointed to positive outcomes linked to the housing program. Cement sales rose by 11.29%, housing loans increased by 3%, and credit allocated to property developers went up by 4.5%.
She also said that the contribution of small and medium-sized enterprises exceeded 80%, alongside the creation of 74,000 jobs in the construction and public works sector.
Regarding the “Cities Without Slums” program, El Mansouri reported that it has improved living conditions for 373,927 families up to November 2025.
A total of 62 cities and urban centers have been declared free of slums, including Es-Smara and Laayoune, which are set to receive the designation this month.
Slow progress amid an unending cycle of post-earthquake uncertainties
During the current government mandate, the ministry worked to accelerate the pace of addressing substandard housing by relying on a precise assessment of previous approaches and prioritizing rehousing through the involvement of the private sector. This, she said, has allowed for a faster intervention rate.
As a result, the number of beneficiary families has risen from 6,000 per year between 2018 and 2021 to 18,000 per year from 2022 to 2025, particularly in Temara, Greater Casablanca, Skhirat, Sale, Es-Smara, and Guercif.
Many victims of the Al Haouz earthquake continue to express frustration over their living conditions, staging protests and raising their voices over what they describe as slow and uneven progress on the ground.
Despite the government’s efforts and the significant resources mobilized for reconstruction, families in some remote areas remain without permanent homes, relying on temporary shelters that offer little protection against cold temperatures and seasonal rainfall.
For these residents, the consequences of the earthquake are still part of daily life, as they struggle with insecurity, damaged livelihoods, and the uncertainty of when stable housing will finally be restored.
