If ever there was a time to assist in the conservation of the ancient homes in Fès, it is now. According to Minister Delegate for housing, Taoufik Hjira, there are around 7,500 old buildings, including 2,000 intra muros houses, in danger of collapse in the old medina of Fès.
Speaking at a House of Advisors question time, Hjira presented an overview of the situation in the Fès Medina, noting that several measures have been adopted to safeguard the old buildings that are in danger of collapsing. Walking the streets it is easy to observe these measures which mainly take the form of scaffolding supporting walls and rooms above the narrow lanes and alleys.The minister recalled that four agreements have been signed in 2004 to solve this problem. The agreements, amounting to USD 33Mn, provide for renovating 430 buildings in the old medina of Morocco's spiritual capital Fès, strengthening the foundations of 250 other buildings and purchasing 1,019 apartments to re-house families living in buildings definitely due to collapse, he stressed.
Some USD 115Mn have also been earmarked to solve similar problems in Moroccan old medinas, Hjira added.
It is to be hoped that the minister's words will be translated into positive action before more houses collapse and, as in the past, lives are lost.
Tags: Morocco Fes, Maghreb news
1 comment:
Dear View from Fez,
This headline that claims that 7500 plus houses are in danger of collapse is not really accurate.
I've contacted the person at ADER (the main agency in Fez dealing with restoration) in charge of emergency action in the medina. He says that of the 9000 traditional houses in the medina about 400 are in very serious condition, and about 100 of those are so dangerous that they can no longer be inhabited. There are 1000-2000 houses that have structural problems that need attention, but that's not the same as being in danger of collapse.
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