Morocco: Gov’t Completes Intervention Program to Mitigate Forest Fires Impact

Rabat- An intervention program to mitigate the impact of forest fires declared in the regions of Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima and Fez-Meknes is being finalized by the government, said Thursday, the Minister Delegate for Relations with Parliament, Government Spokesman Mustapha Baitas.

At a press briefing after the weekly meeting of the Council of Government, Baitas said that the inventory and collection of data on the ground have been completed. The government is making final touches to an intervention program including measures and emergency procedures and security to mitigate the effects of these fires on agricultural and forestry activity, as well as to provide assistance to affected local population, he added.

According to the official, all fire sites have been controlled and affected local populations have been rescued and their property sheltered, thanks to the effectiveness of intervention teams, the mobilization of land and air assets, and the efforts of all actors on the ground.

The fires have destroyed about 10,560 hectares of forests in the provinces of Larache, Ouezzane, Tetouan, Chefchaouen, Taza and Al Hoceima, he added.