Morocco earmarked mad 5.5 billion for 2004-2010 to eradicate shanty-towns, minister

Morocco has earmarked MAD 5.5 billion, 500 million euros, for the 2004-2010 period to eradicate shanty-towns part of an overall program that is to cost MAD 17 billion, said housing and urbanism minister delegate Ahmed Toufiq Hjira.

Speaking at a study day on the social impact of the "towns free of shanties" program, Hjira said resources have already been disbursed as a public participation to fund land equipment, subsidies to households and aid to micro-credit associations.

He said the program, initiated this past July 22, aims at providing global assistance to towns instead of projects to avoid shanty-town dwellers shift from slum to slum and to set a deadline for the completion of the projects.

World Bank and UNDP representatives, Fared Belhaj and Dierckx de Casterlé, respectively, paid tribute to the Moroccan efforts in social development fields and in the fight of poverty and unhealthy housing and stressed the commitment of their institutions to support social development policies.

The gathering was held to assess the achievements of the housing department part of the "towns free of shanties" program and discuss issues relating to housing and urban development.