In Deroua, a town near Casablanca, the lives of residents are poisoned by the presence of an illegal dump. Despite repeated protests and promises from the authorities, the situation persists, transforming this area into an unsanitary hell for residents.
A resident of Deroua sums up the situation in poignant terms. “We have been suffering from this discharge for years. We have protested several times, we even blocked trucks, but no one listens to us. We suffer from allergies and suffocate without being able to open the windows.»
The nauseating fumes and smoke released by the incineration of waste suffocate families, like this mother of a five-month-old baby, who is particularly vulnerable: “I have an infant, he has no immunity. He chokes. We close all the windows so the smell doesn’t come in, but it’s no use.».
The landfill not only degrades air and water quality, it also paralyzes agricultural activities in this rural region. “We can’t grow anything here, and it’s a real shame, it’s a loss of income for us», deplores another resident.
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Passing visitors, like this resident of Berrechid, see the extent of the problem: “When I come to visit relatives here, I suffer observing these desolate scenes: children playing here and breathing these asphyxiating odors.».
Broken promises
The inhabitants of Deroua feel abandoned. Although initiatives have been launched, such as burying waste underground to reduce fumes, they remain insufficient and ambiguous: “We don’t know what their intentions are, although they tell us it’s to chase away the smoke that comes from waste incineration.», Explains a resident.
The authorities regularly assure that the landfill will be moved. However, for 32 years, these promises have remained ineffective, fueling the despair and anger of residents.
A health and environmental emergency
The Deroua situation illustrates the broader problem of waste management in Casablanca and other regions of Morocco. The lack of rapid and effective management of these illegal dumps endangers the health of populations and compromises local economic and ecological development.
Residents are calling for concrete and immediate measures: the closure of the landfill, the proper treatment of waste and the rehabilitation of contaminated land.
Par Fatima El Karzabi et Khalil Essalak
01/11/2025 at 6:12 p.m.
