OMDH Calls for National Support to Assist Flood Victims

In response to widespread flooding in Morocco, human rights advocates are urging authorities to launch a national campaign to support displaced residents.

Agadir – The Moroccan Organization for Human Rights (OMDH) expressed concern over the humanitarian toll from the extreme weather that hit northern Morocco, particularly Ksar El Kebir, which caused widespread property damage and forced tens of thousands of residents to evacuate their homes and seek refuge in safer locations.

The organization highlighted its close monitoring of the rescue operations carried out by local authorities, the Royal Armed Forces, Civil Protection teams and National Security forces. These operations included both land and air evacuations under challenging weather conditions, ensuring the safety and protection of residents’ lives.

OMDH argued that the scale of material and human losses qualifies this event as a major catastrophe under national law, specifically articles 21 and 31 of the Moroccan Constitution, which requires the official designation of the affected areas as disaster zones and the registration of victims in the national statistics system.

The human rights group also called to activate the Disaster Solidarity Fund to provide compensation, under the provisions of Law No. 110.14 establishing coverage for the consequences of catastrophic events.

The OMDH recommended the immediate implementation of support measures for students whose classes have been disrupted by school closures due to the weather. These include remote learning alongside in-person classes in temporary shelters.

The organization further stressed on providing humanitarian assistance within shelters, including psychological support, with particular attention to vulnerable groups such as children, women with special needs, and people with disabilities.

In regards to greater national support, the group encouraged the government to establish a national fundraising initiative, inviting contributions from citizens, private companies, and public figures to support humanitarian efforts for flood victims.

OMDH reaffirmed its commitment to daily monitoring of the situation through its regional offices, stressing that protecting the right to life and human dignity remains the highest priority amid these extreme weather conditions.