Morocco has unveiled a 3 billion dirham ($330 million) recovery package to rebuild communities devastated by weeks of torrential rainfall that displaced nearly 200,000 people and submerged vast stretches of farmland in the country’s northwest.
In a statement, the Prime Minister’s office said the funds would be used to repair damaged infrastructure, reconstruct destroyed homes, and provide support to affected farmers, livestock breeders and small businesses. The worst-hit municipalities have been officially declared disaster zones.
Relentless rainfall, compounded by emergency water releases from overflowing dams, inundated villages, farmlands and parts of Ksar El Kebir after the Loukkos River burst its banks earlier this month.
Official figures show that 188,000 people have been displaced, while approximately 110,000 hectares of farmland remain underwater.
State television broadcast images of army-backed rescue operations, with helicopters and boats deployed to reach stranded residents and temporary camps set up for evacuees. Access to Ksar El Kebir remains restricted as authorities manage the aftermath of the flooding.
Of the 3 billion dirhams allocated:
- 1.7 billion dirhams will go toward repairing roads, water systems and hydro-agricultural networks.
- The remaining funds will support rehousing programmes, reconstruction of homes, and direct financial assistance to businesses and farmers impacted by the floods.
“The government is fully mobilised to restore essential services and support citizens in the affected areas,” the Prime Minister’s office said.
According to Reuters, Nizar Baraka, Water Minister disclosed that the Oued Makhazine dam reached 160 per cent of its capacity following exceptional inflows and had to release water gradually downstream to prevent further catastrophe.
Morocco’s national dam filling rate has now climbed to nearly 70 per cent, up sharply from 27 per cent a year ago. The surge in water levels effectively ends a seven-year drought that had severely strained supplies and forced heavy investments in desalination projects.
While the intense rainfall has replenished reservoirs and eased years of water scarcity, it has also exposed the vulnerability of low-lying towns and agricultural communities to extreme weather events.
For now, authorities say the priority is rebuilding damaged homes, restoring transport links, and helping displaced families return to normal life after one of the country’s most severe flooding episodes in recent years.
