RAIN CAUSES DAMAGE IN THE RIF

Heavy rains at the start of the year have been responsible for massive damage caused by landslides and burst rivers banks in the Rif. The worst hit area by far, is the village of Taourate, where 58 homes have been completely washed away leaving numerous families homeless. Other badly affected areas include Akchour in the Talembote province, where RifCom carries out projects and has made many friends.

The River Farda, which runs through Akchour, burst its banks in March and this in conjunction with heavy landslides has completely blocked the only road into Akchour, leaving the residents of Akchour and Ouslef isolated and cut off by road to the rest of the world. With electricity lines down and shortage of gas and food, some residents opted to walk out of the area to families and friends living elsewhere. For those residents left behind, it has been a difficult time, despite temporary relief from RifCom who sent food and supplies to the area using mules.

The latest news coming out of the area is that the road remains blocked but electricity has been restored and residents are returning via a cleared track from Azilane. With a planned visit to Akchour and Ouslef in May, RifCom intends to assess the damage and determine how best they can help these vulnerable villages.

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