They are traumatised and cannot file a complaint. "They" are the residents of the Larache Children's Home, which is accused by local associations of repeated abuse and embezzlement of funds. A case that is currently making a lot of noise. Libé contacted some of the residents of this charitable establishment who agreed to testify. Testimonies that are nothing short of damning. They point to "practices from another age, abuse, expulsion of residents, lack of hygiene, embezzlement of funds, inhumane actions, insufficient food, and regressive pedagogy". These are the evils that are undermining the Larache Children's Home, declared the residents we met this Thursday, April 9, in Larache. This unbearable situation has existed for several years, our young interviewees affirm, all of whom confirm having been the subject of physical and moral violence. They also stressed that the idea of filing a complaint with the local authorities had crossed their minds several times. But, they tell us, "every time one of the residents decided to go and file a complaint about the dysfunctions at the centre, they quickly changed their mind. Because they knew very well that if they filed a complaint, they risked being expelled from the establishment. Furthermore, the director is very violent and can take revenge on us". The same sources note that a simple opposition to the management's decisions could be a reason for expulsion. As happened, for instance, to young Yassine R (19 years old). And one cannot even contest this decision, he said. Two months ago, he was still a resident of the Larache Children's Home. Young Yassine, who could not stand the "inhumane" treatment by the management, firmly opposed it without worrying about the consequences. But this opposition would be considered "disobedience" and its results would not be long in coming. Last February, the director of the establishment expelled him due to 200 dirhams of unpaid fees. "I tried to make the management understand that my family's situation is difficult and that I could not pay this amount. But they did not want to hear anything. It is understood that most residents cannot pay this amount, since all are poor," Yassine points out, describing the decision to expel him from the establishment as "unjust" and "unjustified". Young Yassine remembers, not without emotion: "When arriving at this establishment five years ago, I did not think I would live a nightmare like the one I had to endure. The management subjected me to abuse just as it did with other residents. Despite this, I endured its inhumane actions". Before launching a cry of distress: "I had no choice. Despite all the abuse, I had to stay in this establishment until I could get my baccalaureate. Alas, today, I have been put out and no one even takes that into account. I do not know what awaits me and I do not know what I will do, nor what I will become. Instead of dedicating myself to preparing for the baccalaureate exams, I am troubled and shocked by the expulsion I was subjected to". The same sentiment is shared by another resident who requested anonymity. This resident, who also claims to have been abused, denounces "the very difficult situation and the inhumane actions in this charitable establishment". He recounts, not without regret: "It happens that I cannot sleep at night. Because I am plagued by the idea that I will, in turn, be expelled by the management. That is why I always try to be obedient and do all the household chores that the management demands of me. So instead of doing my revisions, the director makes me clean the toilets, wash his car, sweep the centre, and other tasks". Yet, he says, "when I arrived at this establishment, my family was relieved to finally see me admitted to this home. Because it would allow me to continue my studies in this city. Which was not possible in the region I am originally from". These declarations, which reflect the distress of the residents of the Larache Children's Home, will be confirmed by other residents. Not without emotion, another resident tells us that in this centre, "we do not even have the right to take a shower. The residents are seriously starting to have health problems because of this". Before insisting: "When the children report these problems to the management, they are threatened with expulsion as happened, for that matter, with Yassine, who was expelled from the establishment when he only had two months left before taking his baccalaureate". Worse still, these same voices accuse the management of serving them poor quality food. But what is exactly happening in the Larache Children's Home? Are the officials informed of this case? When will a commission of inquiry be delegated to this establishment where the dysfunctions are countless? It must be said that this case continues to make noise in Larache. Local associations describe the situation within the establishment as a "scandal". These associative voices rely in particular on the declarations of the residents themselves, on the testimonies of employees of the establishment, and on a recent report. And since then, they have been waiting for the opening of an investigation that is struggling to be initiated. In this report drawn up recently by the AMDH-Larache, the Association raises the scandal of the abuse of children residing in the Children's Home of this city. "Serious dysfunctions are taking place in this centre," we read in this report, of which "Libé" has a copy. And funds are even said to be embezzled, it was lamented. Hence the call from the president of the AMDH-Larache, Fathiya Yakoubi, to open an urgent investigation into the "inhumane conditions in which the 136 residents of the centre currently live". "It is unacceptable that no one knows what is happening in this establishment. The residents are subject to abuse and insults from the director, who is nevertheless supposed to set a good example," laments Fathiya Yakoubi. The president, who does not mince her words, continues: "More seriously, the report even speaks of certain diseases that affect many children. We also talk about the embezzlement of aid from certain charitable associations. The resident children often have problems with the management, which forbids them from taking showers under the pretext of making the gas cylinder last more than a week. Practically all the resident children, and there are a hundred of them, have skin allergies precisely because of this lack of hygiene". And the activist adds: "The expulsion of residents who have not paid fees seriously raises the problem of the financial support of children whose situation is very difficult, as is the case for young Yassine R who has just been put out by the management". She also deplores the fact that one can act this way towards a young resident who is called upon to take his baccalaureate in less than two months. Young Yassine risks not finishing his studies since he is put on the street and has nowhere to go. Mohamed Lahjouji, a member of the AMDH, does not mince his words either. The activist, who believes that the expulsion of a resident is a "violation of human dignity", assures that "the Islamic Charitable Association in Larache is also accused of being complicit with the management that expelled young Yassine. Since the president of the Association does not lift a finger to put things in order in this centre". Not without anger, our interlocutor continues: "Skin diseases are very widespread among the residents. And there is not even a doctor to examine the residents who are forbidden from taking their showers under the pretext of saving butane gas. Which means that the 136 residents cannot shower". More seriously, the residents also see the entirety of the aid and funds that reach the establishment disappear. Under cover of anonymity, an employee of the establishment, who also denounces this abuse, says not without anger: "A commission must go on site to investigate all the dysfunctions that are taking place in this centre". The same employee, whom we met this Thursday, April 9, affirms: "All the aid provided to the children is channelled by the management. The residents do not benefit from it". And to add: "Last year, a Swedish association had financed the renovation work of the establishment's field. In principle, it is the residents who should play there. But the fact is that the management rents this field to young people in the city in exchange for 5 dirhams each". One thing is certain: the case reveals a real problem. But among the members of the management, it is a completely different story. A source close to it says it regrets these attempts to "harm the reputation of the director of the establishment". Categorical, this same source formally contests all the accusations of abuse.