Morocco fears that the drought is threatening its drinking water supply, even in urban areas.
Morocco has experienced its worst drought for almost 40 years. This has raised fears about a severe shortage this year as a result climate change and inefficient water management.
“The country has not seen such a scenario since the 1980s,”Abderrahim Hendouf told AFP that he is a specialist in water policies.
If in the past, drought – recurrent in Morocco – mainly affected rural regions and the agricultural sector, it currently weighs on the “drinking water supply in urban areas”Recent warning to Nizar Baraka (Minister of Equipment and Water), before the deputies.
The country was long subject to climate variations and has experienced a severe shortage in rainfall since September 2021. Official statistics also show a alarming decline of dam reserves of almost 89%, compared to the annual average.
This is the reason for the deficit “A troubling indicator, even if it has not been absorbed with preventive measures, in an effort to avoid water scarcity”In a television interview, Abdelaziz Zerouali was recognized as Director of Water Research and Planning.
Marrakech (south), the tourist capital and Oujda, the east, have escaped the worst by turning to groundwater since December 31 to make sure they are able to continue receiving water.
To contain the devastating effects of the drought, in mid-February the government unblocked an aid program for the agricultural sector – the leading contributor to GDP (14%) ahead of tourism and industry and the main source of jobs in the middle rural – nearly one billion euros.
But it’s a good thing in the end. “need to change our vision on the issue of water. Climate change is real and we need to prepare for it”Abdelaziz Zerouali was alerted at a conference “The right of water” Flap.
Morocco has a water shortage threshold of 600 cubic meters per person per year. At 2,600m, water availability was four-fold higher.3In the 1960s.
Beyond environmental factors “The high demand of water”And “overexploitation of groundwater”Minister Nizar Baraka says that putting pressure on water resources will only lead to more problems.
Amal Ennabih, researcher at the Moroccan Institute for Policy Analysis, believes water scarcity should be addressed in an article for MIPA “Intensely tied to the use of this resource for irrigation, Morocco consumes around 80% each year”.
Expert Abderrahim Shendouf notes that only 10% is irrigated. This makes it all the more worrying. He also pleads to reduce the excessive weight of Morocco’s agricultural sector.