Homeless in Beni Mellal left for dead – literally
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A freakish cold spell in the Moroccan town of Beni Mellal has already killed at least ten people this year. Our Observer there condemns the inaction of the public authorities. Read more and see his photos...
A freakish cold spell in the Moroccan town of Beni Mellal has already killed at least ten people this year. Our Observer there condemns the inaction of the public authorities.
"For now, the authorities are doing nothing"
Said Medyoun, journalist and resident of Beni Mellal, took these photos.
Since the beginning of the year at least ten homeless people have died, according to the local hospital. This is partly due to this extraordinarily cold weather (temperatures as low as -5°C), and also because of alcohol and drug abuse.
In reaction to the high number of deaths, people from the town are asking the local authorities to launch an investigation into the reasons behind it and work out who's at fault. There are some help-centres in Beni Mellal, but the homeless don't trust them and refuse to stay there. There needs to be an improvement in communication between society and those cut off from it.
The Moroccan centre of human rights has condemned the authorities' 'silence' concerning this social catastrophe, stressing that homeless people are citizens like any others and that it's the responsibility of the local authorities to respond to the special needs of that section of the population.
For now, the authorities are doing nothing. We're hoping to rally up enough public support in order to pressure the authorities into taking action."
