Authorities in Ouarzazate held a meeting on Tuesday to review preventive measures aimed at limiting the effects of the winter cold wave, with particular attention to rural and hard-to-reach areas.
The meeting was chaired by Ouarzazate Province Governor Abdellah Jahid and attended by heads of external government services, elected officials and other civilian and military representatives. It focused on the main components of the provincial plan to protect residents from severe winter weather.
Jahid stressed the importance of assessing the preparations made by the various services to ensure effective field interventions and protect people exposed to difficult weather conditions. He called for the full mobilization of personnel and logistical resources, along with close coordination between the agencies involved, to maintain access to isolated villages and protect residents from natural hazards.
The provincial plan calls for early action, including mapping areas affected by cold weather and clearly assigning responsibilities to intervention committees. It also aims to limit the impact of the cold wave through rapid response, support for affected residents and measures to prevent a deterioration in living conditions.
Operational measures include reactivating command and coordination structures, launching public awareness campaigns, monitoring the health of vulnerable people, including pregnant women and people with chronic illnesses, mobilizing the necessary resources and pre-positioning emergency vehicles and equipment.
Under the plan, 173 douars across 11 communes in Ouarzazate province have been identified as areas at risk of snowfall. Several roads have also been flagged as vulnerable to traffic disruptions caused by snow.
During the meeting, representatives of the various services reviewed their respective preventive action plans and stressed the need to coordinate efforts to ensure the provincial plan is effectively implemented.
