Calls for 'cool havens' to ease heat after 21 deaths in Morocco

21 people died due to the severe heat wave in Beni Mellal, while voices have been raised calling for the allocation of cool shelters in Moroccan cities that are witnessing an unprecedented rise in temperatures.

A statement from the Directorate of Health and Social Protection in Beni Mellal stated that “Beni Mellal Hospital recorded 21 deaths on July 24, including 4 deaths outside the hospital walls. The majority of deaths were among people suffering from chronic diseases and the elderly, as the high temperatures contributed to the deterioration of their health and their deaths.

Some countries, such as Japan, designate “cool havens” to relieve the heat on citizens while they travel.

According to the Japanese newspaper “NHK”: The government allocated “cold shelters” weeks ago during the summer of 2024, after recording deaths due to excessive heat.

According to the newspaper, these shelters are equipped with air conditioners and are widely distributed inside public buildings and at specific points on the streets.

Moroccan citizen Younes Al-Sariwi, a resident of Beni Mellal, called for providing cooling fans at least in the limited public spaces in the city, to spare citizens from sunstroke.

Al-Sariwi added that the issue of providing these fans was presented to the relevant authorities last year, due to the noticeable rise in temperatures, explaining that “heat deaths in Beni Mellal are still unclear, for the city’s residents who are accustomed to hot weather.”