Implementation of Urgent Measures to Mitigate Impact of Forest Fires in Larache

Commune of Tatteft (province of Larache) –  The effective launch of the implementation of a series of urgent measures aimed at mitigating the impact of recent fires on agricultural activity and forests, and providing support to affected local populations, took place on Saturday in the municipality of Tatteft in the province of Larache.

These measures, which are part of a MAD 290 million framework agreement will be implemented gradually in the short and medium term.

To this end, a campaign to distribute sheep and goats to people affected by forest fires was launched this Saturday. It will be followed next week with the distribution of subsidized barley, then the delivery of beehives and fruit tree seedlings, and the launch of an operation to reforest forest areas affected by the fires.

Services under the authority of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development, and Water and Forests have begun today the effective implementation of the provisions of the framework agreement, the Regional Director of Agriculture of the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region, Mahjoub Lahrach said.

“We have started the effective implementation of the provisions of the framework agreement for the urgent compensation of people affected by the fires reported in some regions of the Kingdom, especially the northern provinces,” Lahrach, told M24, MAP’s 24-hour news TV channel.

Several beneficiaries of this initiative expressed their gratitude to HM King Mohammed VI, for His High solicitude and His High Directives for the implementation of these urgent measures to mitigate the impact of the fires on several villages in the province of Larache, especially those related to the distribution of sheep, the rehabilitation of affected homes and the rehabilitation of affected fruit orchards.

Pursuant to the High Royal Directives, the Head of Government, Aziz Akhannouch chaired, Friday in Rabat, the signing ceremony of the framework agreement for the implementation of a series of urgent measures to mitigate the impact of recent fires on agricultural activity and forests, and to provide support to affected local populations.

This framework agreement was signed by Minister of Economy and Finance, Nadia Fettah Alaoui, Minister of National Planning, Urban Development, Housing and Urban Policy, Fatim Ezzahra El Mansouri, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests, Mohammed Sadiki, Minister of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Labor and Skills Younes Sekkouri, the wali of the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima Region Mohamed Mhidiya, the wali of the Fez-Meknes Region, Said Zniber, president of the Council of the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima Region, Omar Mourou, and president of the Council of the Fez-Meknes Region Abdelouhed Al Ansari.

This agreement, which aims to mitigate the impact of the fires that broke out in July 2022 on the population, includes the taking of various measures in the short and medium term to support the population for the rehabilitation of homes affected that have been identified by public authorities, to launch reforestation operations on some 9.330 hectares and rehabilitate fruit trees affected, strengthen the means of prevention and control of new fires and mitigate the impact on livestock farmers and beekeepers in affected areas, while continuing the implementation of integrated economic development projects in affected areas.

The agreement also covers the creation of 1,000 additional job opportunities in the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima Region, dedicated to affected people and members of their families.