Public authorities have launched a vast clean-up campaign to combat the illegal occupation of public space. From now on, it is possible to move easily through several streets and boulevards of the city. Street vendors have been forced to vacate the road. Nevertheless, while residents welcome this initiative, they recall previous operations to combat the phenomenon of "ferrachas" which never succeeded. "The most appropriate approach today is to favour dialogue and talks with this social category," explains an official at the prefecture. He added that it is no longer possible to tolerate street vendors continuing to squat on public space. Indeed, in certain parts of the city, particularly at the "Souk of the Fountain", the "Souk Joutia" of El Alia and in Mesbahiat, it is difficult if not impossible to move around without hindrance. Likewise, all the streets surrounding the markets of Boulevard Houria and Rue la Fontaine have been occupied by street vendors for a long time. This situation conveys a poor image of the city. It hinders the development of Mohammedia and generates multiple environmental and health problems. "This situation," stresses this housewife, "has been going on for a long time; we have tried to fight this scourge in vain. The actions undertaken by the relevant services are encouraging; nevertheless, rigorous monitoring is needed, but above all the involvement of neighbourhood associations, not to mention awareness-raising. The public space occupied illegally has taken on worrying proportions. Some no longer hesitate to squat in the streets, in front of houses, and in public squares, believing they have the right to do so; even pavements and tiling are occupied by cars that park there all day long." Indeed, the case of Boulevard Hassan II is telling. The various relocation programmes for street vendors have not succeeded. The latter are increasingly numerous; their disorganised activities distort the urban landscape and create numerous problems. "The most important thing today is the implementation of financing mechanisms to help this category of vulnerable people to integrate and develop their activities within a legal framework. Efforts must focus on the restructuring of commercial zones based on a redevelopment plan for those occupied by street vendors," indicates an association member. He added that attempts to relocate street vendors have failed because the spaces reserved for them are located in places far from the clientele. The scourge of street vendors is unlikely to disappear as long as the problems of rural exodus, unemployment and poverty are not resolved. For the moment, the only alternative to mitigate the phenomenon is to focus on multiplying clean-up campaigns by involving the residents themselves.

Another black spot was also targeted by the clean-up and cleanliness campaign launched by local authorities in Mohammedia. This concerns the waste that was overflowing from the bins placed at the entrance to the "Souk Joutia", which were often overloaded. The relevant services, with the assistance of Sita Al Beïda, the company delegated to collect household waste, undertook a vast cleaning operation inside and at the entrance to the "Joutia". Bins have been installed in all sensitive areas to draw the attention of traders to the importance of cleanliness, hygiene and environmental preservation. Let us remember that the Villes Jumelées park, the city's only green lung, is also held hostage by the "ferrachas" and street vendors who do not even bother to pick up the rubbish they leave behind them.

-* Organisation and overhaul of the city's commercial mapping.

-* Adapted relocation for the 1,300 street vendors in the city.

-* Priority for traders from peripheral regions and unemployed street vendors.