Taps are running dry in southern Morocco, and this has led the citizens to come out in protest, taking to the parched streets in anger, blaming the government for not doing enough.

Towns like Zagora saw repeated protests for access to clean water last month, with experts blaming climate change, burgeoning populations and poor crop choices for the current situation.

The impoverished people of the Zagora region demonstrated in an uncharacteristic show of anger against the water shortages, leading to twenty-three people being arrested following confrontations with police, and eight of them being handed sentences of between two and four months in prison.

Moroccan Prime Minister Saadeddine El Othmani subsequently made an exceptional public apology during a Parliament session.

“I apologise publicly to the people of Zagora, because it’s the state’s responsibility,” he said, promising to solve the problem.

Persistent drought in Morocco over recent years has drastically reduced gross domestic product in this farm-dependent economy, and this has led the government to be greatly concerned that the water issue could become a threat to national stability in the kingdom.

Morocco is seen by many as a steady force in a tense region and an important ally with the West in the fight against terrorism, so any instability would have far-reaching consequences.

Charafat Afailal, the government’s secretary of state in charge of water, said that, “The issue of water has always been a priority for Morocco, but today, after two years of drought, we have to move on to higher gear.”

She added that several projects are underway to strengthen existing infrastructure, including the Agdez dam and a drinking water treatment plant and building wells.

Atmane Rizkou, president of the Moroccan Association of Human Rights in Zagora says that although water supplies have been restored in Zagora, residents are complaining about its poor quality.

“For the last 15 years, the inhabitants of Zagora have been buying drinking water because tap water is undrinkable. We only use it for cleaning.”

RIzkou added that the problem has worsened since the summer, that dry taps had forced women to have to walk further to draw water to quench children’s thirst and wash family dishes and laundry.

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