The National Human Rights Council (CNDH) is following with deep concern the collapse of two residential buildings in the Al Massira neighborhood of the Bensouda district in the Moroccan city of Fez.
Preliminary reports indicate that the incident which took place during the night of Tuesday, December 9 to Wednesday, December 10, 2025, resulted in 22 deaths and 16 injuries of varying severity.
The team from CNDH's Regional Human Rights Commission assigned to follow up on the circumstances and consequences of this tragedy has already begun its work.
The CNDH extends its heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and wishes a speedy recovery to all those injured in this tragic incident. It reiterates that the right to adequate housing is a fundamental human right, guaranteed by the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Article 11) and enshrined in the Moroccan Constitution, notably Articles 31 and 34.
The CNDH also recalls that, according to General Comment No. 4 of the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, adequate housing includes not only shelter, but also structural safety, protection from hazards, construction quality, access to basic services, security of tenure, and a suitable location, which are all essential for safeguarding human dignity.
In this context, the Council recalls the recommendations of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism, which across several cycles has urged Morocco to strengthen public housing policies, accelerate the resolution of substandard housing situations, rehabilitate vulnerable neighborhoods, and ensure special protection for at-risk groups.
Accordingly, the CNDH:
• Emphasizes the urgent need to reinforce and facilitate access to the right to adequate housing as a fundamental social right, in line with constitutional and international commitments and the principles of the new development model.
• Notes that the repeated building collapses are a violation of the right to adequate housing as defined by international standards, and therefore calls for a comprehensive national strategy rooted in proactivity, rigorous and regular monitoring, and the establishment of effective oversight and collapse prediction mechanisms.
• Calls for the publication of the judicial investigation’s findings into this tragedic incident, with responsibility assigned in accordance with the principle of accountability.
• Calls for enhanced institutional coordination among the relevant government sectors, local authorities, and elected councils, within a unified approach that places decent housing and the safety of citizens at the heart of public programs and policies.
• Urges the acceleration of programs to rehabilitate deteriorating neighborhoods and buildings, especially in old cities and historical areas, ensuring the active participation of local authorities and strict adherence to safety standards during restoration, demolition, or resettlement operations.
• Stresses the need for strict implementation of urban planning laws and all related construction and infrastructure regulations, particularly the requirement for building permits and their connection to rigorous technical supervision and high-quality engineering design.
• Calls for the establishment of a permanent joint mechanism which would immediately intervene whenever cracks, structural weaknesses or defects appear, allowing preventive action before accidents occur, thus safeguarding lives and ensuring urban safety.
The Council also calls on citizens to cooperate with the directives of competent authorities, particularly regarding the evacuation of buildings at risk of collapse, reporting cracks or signs of structural instability, and participating in resettlement operations.
The CNDH reiterates its call for developing a sustainable public policy to resettle families living in buildings at risk of collapse. This policy should provide decent, comprehensive housing alternatives based on the principles of dignity, equity, and territorial justice, rather than temporary or circumstantial solutions.
