Category: General

Marrakech – One year after the Al Haouz earthquake, all the projects programmed for the agricultural sector have been completed or are in the final stages of completion, enabling agricultural activity to resume in the affected areas.

The results of the emergency program drawn up and implemented, pursuant to the High Royal Instructions, in the provinces of Al Haouz and Chichaoua, are very positive and significant achievements in the agricultural sector have been made, according to a statement by the Marrakech-Safi Regional Directorate of Agriculture.

Worth 185 million dirhams, this program, which benefited over 42,000 farmers in the region, focused on four main areas, according to the same source, adding that the various aspects of this program have had a very positive impact on the farmers affected in the communes hardest hit by the earthquake, who have resumed their farming activities and continue to benefit from the support of the Department of Agriculture’s services within the framework of the Generatio
n Green Strategy.

These major achievements in the agricultural sector, as part of the emergency and general upgrading program for the affected areas, are the outcome of the mobilization of all the services of the Department of Agriculture at central, regional and provincial levels, to support the local population.

Source: Agence Marocaine De Presse

Tahanaout – Al Massira Al Khadra primary school, located in the municipality of Tahanaout (Al Haouz Province), reopened its doors to students after undergoing rehabilitation and upgrading works following the earthquake of September 8, 2023.

The rehabilitation of this educational institution, inaugurated in 1962, is part of the efforts made by local authorities, in accordance with the High Royal Instructions, to help the population overcome the aftermath of the earthquake, improve basic infrastructure and provide residents with the necessary services.

Witness to difficult times during the natural disaster, this school has been transformed into a lively and modern space, thus giving a special touch to the current school year. Indeed, the smiles on the students’ radiant faces reflect their joy at being able to return to their school.

“The rehabilitation of this school, heavily damaged by the earthquake, was completed in record time, which is a source of pride and honor,” teacher Mustapha El Barrar told MAP.

T
he teacher said that the school had been given a facelift that made the students very happy to study in a quality educational environment.

“The school has been equipped with significant educational and logistical equipment that will undoubtedly contribute to achieving the Roadmap goals, with a positive impact on teachers, students and the population in general,” he noted.

The same goes for the president of the Student Parent Association, Said Ait Brahim, who stressed that this is one of the most significant start in the history of this institution, which opened its doors this year with a completely new look, thanks to the rehabilitation and renovation works it underwent.

The school has undergone major rehabilitation works at several levels, which has given fresh life to its outbuildings and facilities, he noted, welcoming the launch of a range of parallel activities, thanks to a club area, a sports field, a multimedia room and a multidisciplinary room.

Joy also lights up the faces of other members of the
teaching staff who expressed their great satisfaction with the improvement of working conditions in this school which has become modern and well-equipped.

“The renovation works and equipment provided to the school will undoubtedly improve the quality of training and enhance the educational offer in the province,” they noted.

This achievement would not have been possible without the efforts of all stakeholders, they said, noting that the challenges the region faced after the earthquake demonstrated the importance of solidarity and collective action to achieve the expected goals.

Source: Agence Marocaine De Presse

Ida Ougoummad Municipality – One year after the earthquake, the province of Taroudant is experiencing sustained momentum in the field of education, particularly thanks to the program for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of schools.

This program, which aims to improve the educational offer and ensure the continuity of the public educational service, is part of the initiatives intended to allow students to continue their studies in excellent conditions in accordance with the High Instructions of HM King Mohammed VI.

In a statement to MAP, the Director of the Regional Academy of Education and Training (AREF) of Souss-Massa, Ouafae Chaki, said that some 500 schools were damaged to varying degrees in the province of Taroudant following the Al Haouz earthquake.

The efforts made by the supervising ministry and other partners to improve the conditions for welcoming students have made it possible to definitively avoid the use of school tents as well as the completion of the rehabilitation works in 43 schools,
now ready to welcome pupils for the 2024-2025 school year, Chaki underlined.

She added that 32 other schools have undergone rehabilitation and development works thanks to the support of several partners.

For his part, Omar Ait Omar, Director of the ‘Ida Ougoummad’ high school, noted that thanks to the rehabilitation and renovation works it has undergone, this school is ready to welcome some 363 students in the best conditions.

According to Hassan Lirqui, President of the Student Parent Association, the combined efforts of all stakeholders have enabled a rapid resumption of classes at the high school, which had been damaged by the Al Haouz earthquake.

As part of the efforts made by all stakeholders to guarantee the right to education and training, the reconstruction and rehabilitation program for quake-affected schools, provides for building proximity schools, with the provision and optimization of school transport services.

Carried out in accordance with the specific heritage and architectural features o
f the affected areas, and in accordance with updated earthquake-resistant standards, this programme also aims to increase the number of municipal schools offering boarding services, school transport and accommodation for teachers.

Source: Agence Marocaine De Presse

Talat N’yaacoub – One year after the earthquake, the reconstruction efforts are in full swing in the affected municipalities, in line with the High Royal Instructions.

The reconstruction and rehabilitation of the facilities damaged by the earthquake is on track and important structuring and development projects are being carried out to allow the resettlement of families and a return to normality as soon as possible.

In the villages of Talat N’yaacoub and Ijoukak, a MAP team observed first-hand the progress made in the rehabilitation and reconstruction of housing that was totally or partially destroyed by the earthquake, despite the various challenges, particularly difficult terrains.

Houses will be available in the coming months, thanks to the strong support and determined commitment of provincial and local authorities, as well as the various stakeholders.

In a statement to MAP, Mohamed Madi, a resident of the Azrou-n-Souq village, Talat N’yaacoub municipality, said that the construction of his new house
would not have been possible without the financial support obtained under the aid program for the reconstruction of affected houses.

Having received an amount of 140,000 dirhams to rebuild his completely destroyed home, he noted that he also benefited from the financial aid granted to disaster-stricken families, which is 2,500 dirhams per month for one year.

In the same village, most of the houses have reached important stages on the road to construction, particularly in terms of earthworks and excavation, while waiting to receive the last payment of aid to complete the works.

For his part, Rachid Ramzi, one of the inhabitants of the Amgdoul village, which was badly damaged in the earthquake, said that the reconstruction works on his house has well progressed and that he is currently putting the finishing touches to his new home.

In the same spirit, the construction operation in Outaghri village, in the municipality of Ijoukak, is in full swing, in close collaboration with the local population, under the
continuous supervision and support of the authorities, who are sparing no effort to provide assistance, in implementation of the High Instructions of HM King Mohammed VI aimed at improving the social and economic conditions of the inhabitants of this region.

Likewise, the inhabitants express their gratitude to HM King Mohammed VI for His benevolence and special attention, stressing that this gave them the strength and determination to overcome the consequences of this natural disaster.

Source: Agence Marocaine De Presse

Muscat, Sultanate of Oman condemned on Monday the Israeli aggression that targeted Masyaf region and its surroundings, calling for putting an end to the Zionist war crimes.

‘we call on the International community to put an end to the aggressive practices, political assassinations, and war crimes Israel commits’ Oman ministry of foreign affairs said in a statement.

‘The act requires adopting an international stance to deter the Israeli occupation and hold it accountable in accordance with the rules of international law, to achieve justice, and to preserve the region’s security and stability’ the Ministry added.

It expressed solidarity and condolences to families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery for the injured.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency

Cairo, Upon the invitation of Egyptian Foreign Minister, Badr Abdelatty, Caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Fayssal Mikdad, held extensive official talks in Cairo on Monday.

The talks dealt with ways to enhance relations between Syria and Egypt in various fields, which reflect the historical feature of relations between the two countries and the two brotherly peoples.

At the beginning of the meeting, Mikdad conveyed the greetings of President Bashar Al-Assad to his brother, President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, appreciating Egypt’s support for the Syrian state in facing all challenges.

The two sides discussed the situation in Gaza and what the Palestinian people are being subjected to, and the importance of stopping the genocidal war being committed by the Zionist entity against them.

Mikdad stressed the need to make every effort to stop the aggression, prevent the displacement of Palestinians, and not allow the expansion of the scope of escalation and aggression against other countries in
the region.

For his part, Minister Abdelatty, stressed Egypt’s rejection of foreign interference in Syrian affairs, and its keenness to respect Syria’s sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity, and its support for the Syrian state’s efforts to combat terrorism and improve the humanitarian conditions of the Syrian people.

Viewpoints were in agreement regarding the importance of coordinating the two countries’ stances on many regional and international issues of common interest. They agreed to continue consultation and coordination between them in a way that serves the interests of the two countries and the two brotherly peoples.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency