Morocco, U.N. study anti-poverty program

Morocco and the United Nations Human Settlements Center probed in Rabat Tuesday means to boost a program for struggle against poverty in urban and semi-urban areas

During talks with the center's director for the Arab World and Africa, Alione Badiane, Moroccan environment, town-planning and housing minister, Mohamed Yazghi surveyed efforts exerted by Morocco to fight poverty and the obstacles hindering the raising of poor populations' living standards.

Yazghi, who dwelt on the financial constraints hampering the implementation of the government's social programs, stressed Morocco's will to intensify efforts to eradicate all forms of poverty in cooperation with the concerned U.N. agencies.

Badiane lauded Morocco's efforts to struggle against poverty and the contribution of the civil society in the endeavor.

Morocco devised a 1998-2000 pilot program for struggle against poverty in these areas in cooperation with local elects and authorities, NGOs and the private sector.

The program seeks to increase poor households' income, facilitate access to social services and protect vulnerable layers of the society.