[Curiosities] Morocco Launches Aid Operations for People Affected by Heavy Snowfall

[BirSaNN]

People in Ouarzazate reported being stranded after heavy snowfall.

Rabat - Morocco launched urgent aid operations in the province of Ouarzazate after heavy snowfall left people and travelers stranded.

The Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity launched its operations on Saturday evening after instructions from King Mohammed VI, Morocco's news agency MAP reported.

The aid will benefit 9,000 families from 75 douars (small villages), said head of communications at the foundation Sanaa Drdich.

The beneficiaries will receive medical attention, as well as companionship to help them with their needs.

The first aid shipment, which reached Ouarzazate on Saturday, contained food supplies and blankets for the residents, as well as medical supplies.

Morocco's King Mohammed VI issued instructions to launch urgent aid operations to benefit residents affected from the cold weather and heavy snowfalls.

Aircraft from the Royal Armed Forces were also mobilized for the operation.

The snowfall in Ouarzazate caused road blockages, leaving travelers stranded in the area and supplies unable to reach residents.

The extreme weather conditions also affected residents with inadequate heating, leaving them to suffer in the extremely taxing circumstances.

In January, the King had ordered a solidarity campaign for other po[CENSORED]tions exposed to extremely low temperatures, including in the provinces of Midelt, Khenifra, Azilal, and Al Haouz.

Extreme drops in temperature have always caused hardships for disadvantaged and remote communities in Morocco, as the extreme conditions cause a lack of supplies and health issues.

In 2019, Minister of Transport and Logistics Abdelkader Amara said that more than 700,000 Moroccans suffered from adverse effects due to cold snaps every year.

Despite efforts from the government to alleviate some of the negative effects, activists have maintained that those measures remain inadequate, and have called for “shared responsibility” to help the affected po[CENSORED]tions.

link: https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2023/02/354111/morocco-launches-aid-operations-for-people-affected-by-heavy-snowfall