100 Days After the Haouz Earthquake: The Struggle Continues for the Afflicted Families

BY: Hana Saada

ALGIERS- After one hundred days, Halima returns to her home for the first time. Upon arrival, a heavy silence engulfs the place. She gazes sadly at the memory of the olive tree that adorned the entrance—a stark reminder of the natural disaster that turned everything here into rubble.

Everything seemed normal before 11 PM on September 8, when Morocco was struck by a powerful 6.8-magnitude earthquake, the second most potent in the country’s history. Centered in the heart of the Atlas Mountains, 71 kilometers southwest of Marrakech, the quake resulted in approximately 3,000 casualties and displaced tens of thousands.

Halima is one of 300 people who lost their homes in the early hours of September 9 in Azrou, a village in the Houz region. Despite government promises, survivors and victims are still awaiting the implementation of pledged aid, while winter approaches, revealing nature’s harshness.

Government’s Rescue and Reconstruction Plans: Prolonged Waiting

In early October, the Moroccan government decided to allocate direct financial assistance to families affected by the earthquake. The government committed to providing a monthly allowance of 2,500 Moroccan dirhams (about $250) to families whose homes partially or fully collapsed due to the earthquake.

Additionally, a budget of 2.5 billion Moroccan dirhams was earmarked for immediate reconstruction projects, including the urgent rebuilding of over a thousand schools and rehabilitation of forty-two health centers.

King Mohammed VI announced that the kingdom would spend 120 billion dirhams (around $11.7 billion) over the next five years on a comprehensive reconstruction program. This program aims to benefit more than four million people and encompasses housing, infrastructure rehabilitation, ending isolation, and addressing social deficits in the affected areas.

Since then, the spaces near the valleys of the High Atlas have been filled with tents—some provided by the government, others by non-governmental organizations, and some ingeniously constructed by the residents themselves. Despite the promises, the plight of these survivors continues, surrounded by the imposing silence of the mountains, crushing the flickering hope.

Blankets: An Urgent Necessity

Khadija and Sara, aged 17 and 20 respectively, live in a small tent measuring no more than 10 square meters with their parents and younger sibling.

“I haven’t slept for nights; the cold prevents me from sleeping,” laments Sara. Meanwhile, a truck arrives at the makeshift camp set up by the villagers. This unusual event raises expectations and uncertainty among the neighbors. Sara asserts, “No one has come here for months; we have been forgotten.”

Abd El-Bahid, the founder of the Canadian non-governmental organization “For the Love of Children,” dedicated to humanitarian aid for children worldwide, steps out of one of the vehicles. He is loaded with dozens of boxes filled with oil, water, and blankets.

In a matter of minutes, a crowd gathers around the man near the temporary mosque built in Azrou. Smiles turn to tears and anxiety, marking the moment. The initial hope turns into a fierce struggle of blows and stone-throwing; everyone wants a blanket. It’s the face of cold and despair.

“We study in a tent and walk for an hour to reach Tahanout for the bathroom.”

In some villages, portable toilets have been installed to ensure a minimum level of hygiene and health conditions for residents. However, in many other areas, such as Azrou, this basic assistance has not yet arrived.

Sara explains, “We have to walk for an hour to reach the nearest city, Tahanout, where there are paid bathrooms, but we can’t afford them all the time.”

Sara used to attend school in Azrou, but now she continues her studies in a tent, receiving lessons like other children in these areas. After the earthquake, the Moroccan Ministry of Education estimated that 1,050 educational centers were damaged. Khadija says, “Since then, we only go to school for a few days.”

The two young women note that education has been affected by the earthquake, as students do not study in classrooms. This situation worsened due to the teachers’ strike after the government imposed the new basic system for employees of the Ministry of National Education.

Thus, on the days when they go to the city of Tahanout, Sara and Khadija use social media to continue their studies. Some Moroccan teachers have started broadcasting lessons online through platforms like Instagram and YouTube for students who cannot attend physical classrooms.

For Sara and Khadija, who say their family has not yet received government aid, their studies are the only way to escape the hell they have been living in for three months.

Hope Fades as Depression Grips Families in the Aftermath of the Moroccan Earthquake

In the outskirts of Amizmiz, located 60 kilometers from Marrakech, a group of children has formed, playing on a mound of rubble. Some of them use wooden sticks as swords, while others pretend to be frightened by an imaginary monster hiding among the debris.

On the flip side, Hisham watches his children as they transport wood in a cart, constructing what will be their new home in an attempt to reclaim what was lost.

Following the earthquake, the Moroccan government announced a package of aid for rebuilding damaged homes. Consequently, families that have partially or completely lost their homes are expected to receive between 80,000 and 140,000 Moroccan dirhams to rehabilitate their houses.

Despite the promises of monthly financial support for each family from the Moroccan government, Hisham has lost hope in rebuilding his partially collapsed home. He has received no assistance, and he is uncertain when his request will be addressed. “No one informs us of anything, and I don’t know when I will receive help,” says the man.

Furthermore, Hisham regrets that the allocated amount will only cover 35% of the total cost of rehabilitating his home.

Since the earthquake struck their town, Hisham has been taking care of his three children, as his wife succumbed to depression, compelling her to stay in the tent ever since.

“Many people experience continuous fear, stemming from seemingly ordinary sounds, such as the noise of cars and trucks,” affirms Fatima Zoubeir, a volunteer from a non-governmental organization.

This constant fear is fostering reluctance among people to return to their homes. Despite adverse weather and living conditions, they prefer staying in tents, fearing that their houses might collapse entirely if they return, explains Zoubeir.

Dzair Tube Media Group 

Dzair Tube has firmly established itself as a prominent player among Algerian digital news sites, offering a diverse and enriching content experience. The platform, available in Arabic, French, and English editions, captures the attention of a wide-ranging audience, amassing over half a million daily clicks.

A testament to its commitment to excellence, Dzair Tube received the prestigious President of the Republic’s Award for Professional Journalist in the Electronic Press category on October 22, 2022. This recognition underscores the platform’s unwavering dedication to upholding the highest standards of journalism.

With a significant online presence, Dzair Tube boasts 350,000 subscribers on YouTube, over five million followers on various Facebook pages, and 450,000 subscribers on Instagram. Its digital channel has become a hub for diverse programming, covering news, sports, entertainment, culture, and religion, catering to a broad spectrum of audience preferences.

Equipped with state-of-the-art studios and advanced technology, Dzair Tube’s digital channel has garnered substantial viewership for its varied programs. Hosting interactive discussions with influential figures across different domains, the platform actively fosters public discourse and engagement. Beyond news coverage, Dzair Tube extends its commitment to the production of marketing documentaries, short TV commercials, and high-viewership programs.

The success of the print edition of Dzair Tube’s sports newspaper, “Dzair Sport,” further highlights the platform’s impact, with over 50,000 daily downloads from the official Dzair Tube website.

Recently honored with the Media Leadership Award from the Minister of Communication, Mohamed Laâgab, Dzair Tube continues to shape the landscape of Algerian digital news, maintaining a position of influence and impact in the media industry.