Deep Dive: Nearly 7,000 buildings at risk of collapse identified in northern Morocco

Northern Morocco's Tangier Tetouan Al Hoceima region, encompassing historic coastal and inland cities like Tetouan, Tangier, and Chefchaouen, faces a persistent challenge with aging infrastructure in its old medinas and urban cores. These medinas, UNESCO World Heritage sites in cases like Tetouan, reflect centuries of Andalusian, Berber, and Ottoman influences, where dense, multi-story buildings constructed with traditional materials like rammed earth and lime mortar have deteriorated due to seismic activity, poor maintenance, and urban neglect. The high concentration in Tetouan's medina (2,710 buildings) underscores how cultural preservation clashes with modern safety needs, as these areas are economic hubs for tourism and local commerce. Key actors include the National Agency for Urban Renewal and Rehabilitation of Unsafe Buildings (ANAR), tasked with technical assessments, alongside regional governors and Adib Benbrahim, the Secretary of State for Housing, who prioritize this issue amid Morocco's broader housing modernization efforts post-2011 constitutional reforms emphasizing urban development. The disparities across cities—such as Tangier's 1,179 versus Asilah's 92—highlight varying levels of urbanization and investment, with port cities like Tangier facing higher pressures from migration and trade. This meeting signals coordinated government action, but resource constraints in a middle-income economy limit rapid progress. Cross-border implications are notable given the region's proximity to Europe via the Strait of Gibraltar; instability from collapses could disrupt migration flows and tourism, affecting Spain and the EU, which fund Moroccan urban projects through partnerships like the Neighborhood Policy. For Morocco, unresolved risks exacerbate vulnerability in a seismically active zone, recalling the 2004 Al Hoceima earthquake that killed over 600. Beyond the region, international investors in Tangier's free trade zone may reassess risks, while humanitarian NGOs monitor for displacement. Looking ahead, completing assessments on the remaining 2,507 buildings is critical, potentially leading to evacuations, demolitions, or retrofits funded by public-private partnerships. Success here could model solutions for similar issues in other North African medinas, balancing heritage with safety and bolstering Morocco's image as a stable North African hub.