These little old people whom no one wants anymore

Growing old can turn into a nightmare. These 31 distressed residents who spend their long days in this "Centre for homeless and destitute elderly people", located in the Atlas district, in Azrou, confirm this reality. "We are all rejected by our families," asserts Hadj Ahmed Taïaa, 81 years old. With tears in his eyes, he tells ALM his story. "I have no children, but I have brothers who live in Casablanca," he stammers in a tone full of sorrow. He was a shepherd who earned his living with dignity. He was married, but divorce condemned him to live alone, without a companion. Admittedly, he visited his family from time to time. He even had friends. "But they all abandoned me. No one wanted me when I really needed them," he adds in a bitter tone. Finally, in 2008, he took refuge in this centre, which currently houses 17 men and 14 women and was built with a budget of 1,719,852 dirhams, of…