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Severe Drought Grips Southern Morocco as Water Crisis Intensifies
Tuesday 6 October 2020, by
Faced with lack of rain, the scarcity of water resources exacerbated by the overexploitation of groundwater, farmers and individuals in southern Morocco find themselves in a total impasse. Faced with the extremely low level of dams in this region, an SOS is being launched.
Many regions of the kingdom are suffering from drought, a consequence of the lack of rain. The specter of water shortages is now affecting thousands of households in Agadir. This situation follows the decision of the Autonomous Multi-Services Authority of the city to cut off water for several hours a day. This is something that the residents have denounced, tired of the ordeal of drought for years.
The issue of drought is now a priority for King Mohammed VI himself, who is concerned about the situation. This shortage is explained by the rainfall deficit added to the massive overexploitation of groundwater by agriculture. The 2020 agricultural season is marked by a large drop in rainfall with a 44% deficit over the last 30 years compared to the normal year, said the Minister of Agriculture during a parliamentary session.
The executive is working on this, to find solutions. Prime Minister Saad-Dine El Otmani has promised emergency, rapid and strategic measures. Similarly, the king had announced the establishment of a "commission that will look into this issue, to find appropriate solutions".
The consequences of this situation are becoming alarming for the Moroccan economy this year. However, for the time being, water saving measures concern much more the south of the kingdom, where the level of dams is particularly low.
According to the UN, access to water services in urban areas in Morocco has reached 96% compared to 65% in rural areas of the kingdom, reports barlamane.com.