Morocco Launches Emergency Aid as Severe Winter Weather Hits Country
Morocco Launches Emergency Aid as Severe Winter Weather Hits Country
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Moroccan authorities have rolled out nationwide emergency assistance to support tens of thousands of families affected by harsh winter conditions, including freezing temperatures, heavy rainfall, and snowfall, Arab News reported.
The move follows deadly flash floods triggered by torrential rain in the coastal province of Safi on Sunday, which killed at least 37 people. The floods damaged around 70 homes and shops in the city’s old quarter, swept away vehicles, and cut off several roads.
According to authorities, the relief operation will cover 28 provinces impacted by severe weather. Food supplies and blankets are set to be distributed to approximately 73,000 households affected by cold, snow, and rain.
Weather services issued a red alert on Tuesday for snowfall of up to 80 centimeters in the High Atlas Mountains, while an orange alert was announced for rainfall reaching up to 50 millimeters across much of Morocco’s central and northern regions.
In the mountainous province of Ouarzazate, about 500 kilometers southeast of Rabat, snow levels have reached around 50 centimeters, with nighttime temperatures dropping below freezing.
The extreme weather comes after seven years of drought that significantly depleted Morocco’s major water reservoirs, making the recent heavy rain both destructive and hydrologically significant.
