Floods: Morocco has lost 8 billion Dirhams in 13 years
The floods caused losses estimated at 8 billion Dirhams (MAD) (about 815 million USD). This important loss involves the period between 2008 and 2021. The announcement was made by Nizar Baraka, Minister of Equipment and Water, in response to a written question from a Member of Parliament from the Constitutional Union party concerning climate change. Like other countries, Morocco is not immune to this phenomenon, which has been aggravated in recent years by the harmful consequences of greenhouse gas emissions. The question from the M.P. was an opportunity for the Minister to recall that climate change over the last two decades has been punctuated by periods of drought and heavy snowfalls which have affected approximately 5,000 kilometers of asphalted roads.
• More damage to the road network: It is the road network that suffers the consequences of bad weather, particularly during the winter seasons. Damage to basic road infrastructure can manifest itself in the collapse of old bridges, a more difficult or impossible access to certain water facilities, as well as flooded and damaged sidewalks. Added to this is the partial collapse of the hydraulic facilities. The Minister listed other damages such as the destruction of the systems supposed to protect certain structures, due to soil erosion, landslides and litter, loss of pillars, water drainage works, and the deterioration of roadsides.
•A substantial budget for repairs: The Ministry of Equipment is accustomed to activating its system in the event of a natural disaster. In addition to the mobilization of more than 913 machines and trucks, including 23 machines used to carry vehicles and 111 snowplows, the Ministry dedicates a budget of nearly 5.85 billion MAD to repair the damage caused by the floods during the 2008-2021 period.
• 230 million MAD in damage in 2021: It should be recalled that the damage caused by floods has cost 230 million MAD charged to the Government last year. As far as maintenance activities are concerned, they required more than one billion MAD. This involved the consolidation, enlargement, or upgrading of projects. According to statistical data from the ministry, 1,632 kilometers of roads have benefitted from maintenance.
• Action plan against floods put in place: Given its geographical location, Morocco is faced with a climatic trend characterized by short but intense rainy spells. Faced with this situation, and in order to mitigate the effects of flooding, an action plan based on an integrated vision including priorities and measures to be taken, in particular flood risk detection and warning systems, has been put in place.
Mohamed CHAOUI
