Kingsley Kobo, AfricaNews reporter in Abidjan, Ivory Coast
The United Nations has acknowledged Morocco's efforts in the field of housing, particularly in terms of reducing slums. At a UN-organised ceremony in Shanghai, China, Morocco was honoured for the progress it has made over the few years in providing descent housing for its populations.

“Morocco's efforts in the field of housing have contributed to reducing the number of slums and improving the living conditions of citizens,” wrote Inga Bjork-Klevby, the UN Deputy Secretary General and Deputy Executive Director of the UN-Habitat, on the sidelines of the 2010 UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour awards, organized as part of the celebration of the World Habitat Day, , Agence Maghreb Arabe Presse said.
Morocco was given the 2010 UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour award for its national program to fight indecent housing, which aims notably to eradicate slums in cities and urban centres.
“This program is supported by public authorities, private sector and civil society, and this synergy has made Morocco a success story in the Middle East and the North African region,” Inga Bjork-Klevby added.
The UN officials commended the Kingdom’s large programmes in the field of housing and the ongoing efforts by the north African country to improve the living conditions of its citizens.
“Morocco has received this award for the progress and the programmes it has undertaken in the recent years, making the country a model for other African and Arab countries that can benefit from its experience in this field,” said Jane Nyarairu, UN-Habitat’s information service director.
Lower House speaker, Abdelouahed Radi, and Foreign Minister, Taib Fassi Fihri on behalf of the Moroccan government received the 2010 UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour award.