Badr Tadlaoui
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10.49am – November 21, 2024
Scams by entrepreneurs in the context of post-2023 earthquake reconstruction are aggravating the suffering of the affected populations, Barlamane.com learned from sources on site. “Exploiting the vulnerability of disaster victims, certain players in the construction sector are said to have abused their position to embezzle funds, deliver poor quality work or abandon construction sites”it was indicated. These practices, revealed by growing complaints and poignant testimonies, call into question the effectiveness of control mechanisms, the transparency of public procurement and the responsibilities of the actors involved in this matter.
Contractors are said to have abandoned post-earthquake construction sites in the Marrakech region after receiving advance payments, leaving the victims without resources, Barlamane.com learned from observers on the ground. Certain sites, estimated at 40% of the work started in rural areas, were carried out with substandard materials which directly threaten the safety of residents, according to specialists on site.
These fraudulent practices “resulted in considerable economic losses for the affected families, 60% of whom had mobilized all of their savings to finance the work”according to witnesses who confided in Barlamane.com, who deplore “laxity in project control.” The specific case of traders in the Talat N’Yaaqoub region illustrates this situation well: almost 60% of the destroyed commercial premises have not yet been replaced by suitable structures. The absence of these facilities compromises not only the economic survival of residents but also the commercial recovery of a seriously affected region.
The population consulted demands that “inspection of works must be systematic and entrusted to independent agencies with certified technical skills”adding that “reconstruction projects require urgent audit.” According to the same source, “contractors must be subject to performance obligations with the establishment of financial restraints to guarantee the completion and quality of the work.”
They also call for an official investigation which “must be open to identifying and prosecuting cases of fraud, with meaningful penalties for those responsible.” To date, fewer complaints filed by victims have resulted in few legal proceedings. According to an economic actor in the region, “the estimated cost of losses linked to fraud in the disaster areas could reach 15% of the budget allocated to reconstruction, or around 500 million dirhams.” He emphasizes the importance “concerted action between public and private actors and civil society to restore confidence and guarantee equitable and sustainable reconstruction.”
Morocco
