In the wake of a tumultuous seismic event, Morocco has unveiled the “Major Atlas Development Agency”, a resolute step forward in orchestrating comprehensive reconstruction and development programs in areas grievously impacted by the recent earthquake. This development is not merely a response to natural calamity but a robust initiative aimed at preserving the region’s rich cultural heritage and fortifying its infrastructural and economic resilience.
Morocco’s Minister of Equipment and Water, Nizar Baraka, emphasized that the agency is dedicated to overseeing the reconstruction programs, safeguarding the region’s cultural legacy, and initiating developmental programs in the earthquake-affected regions. Such endeavors extend beyond mere rehabilitation, plunging into the realm of proactive development and establishing a foundation for a revitalized, robust future for the affected regions.
He relayed that the directives of the King were clear and pointed: to provide assistance to those affected by the earthquake and to embark on a journey of not just recovery, but also robust reconstruction, as reported by Sky News. The aim transcends simple restoration, aspiring to not only rebuild and repair the damaged areas but also to earnestly preserve the cultural capital embedded within the region.
As outlined by Minister Baraka, the government’s current objective is not limited to reconstruction. Rather, it encompasses a holistic approach towards better, more innovative rebuilding through regional development, focusing on three pivotal axes. These are the establishment of the Major Atlas Development Agency to supervise the implementation of reconstruction and development projects, ensuring transparency with respect to all funds mobilized for the program, and preparing for a genuinely integrated developmental program. The King of Morocco has decided to allocate 12 billion dollars, set to be disbursed over a five-year period.
A heightened focus on citizens, providing them with a qualitatively superior life, and developing new companies is imperative, granting them the opportunity to foster new economic activities such as environmental tourism, agriculture, and manufacturing industries. This holistic approach underscores Morocco’s commitment to not only revitalizing the infrastructure but also to sustaining the economic and cultural vitality of the impacted regions.
It’s clear that the objective is resolute: to maintain the region as it is because of its paramount importance in preserving the uniqueness of these homes. “We want to rebuild them, repair them, and at the same time, it is very important to preserve the cultural capital in the area,” said the minister. This initiative, thus, manifests as a beacon of hope and a testament to Morocco’s unwavering commitment to the preservation, development, and upliftment of its lands and peoples, intertwining recovery with forward-thinking development in the wake of nature’s upheavals.
