Morocco: Floods DREF operation no MDRMA003
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Over the last months, heavy rains in Morocco have claimed hundreds of lives and forced more than 6,000 people to be evacuated. The victims, across northern and central Morocco, died as rivers rose or houses were swept away/collapsed due to the landslides. In addition, the infrastructure and agriculture were considerably damaged. Hundreds among those evacuated are in temporary shelters, receiving food and non food relief items and basic medicine.
The floods have affected several provinces of the country. The worst hit are the Gharb and the Souse regions. Recently, other regions like the northern region, Tadla, and Middle Atlas were drastically affected as well. The devastation is much worse in the rural areas, where homes are unable to withstand the effects of heavy flooding and snowfalls. Morocco's weather forecasters have warned that the rains and the cold wave are set to continue through the coming weeks.
The Moroccan Red Crescent (Moroccan RC) has been operational in the Gharb region, supporting affected victims in four temporary shelters. With the deterioration of the situation in several other provinces in the northern and central areas, affecting more communities, the National Society intervention through its volunteers in the field has increased. The Moroccan RC has procured relief items (blankets, hygiene kits, basic medicines) and items for psycho-social support programme (PSP) activities. This DREF allocation will support the Moroccan RC in assisting 2,000 families (10,000 beneficiaries) with relief items and in emergency health. So far, the Moroccan government has not been requesting any official international assistance.
This operation is expected to be implemented over three months, and will therefore be completed by 30 June 2010; a Final Report will be made available three months after the end of the operation (by 30 September 2010).
