Three Years After Morocco Quake, Survivors Remain Divided on Recovery Progress

Three years have passed since a magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Morocco’s Al Haouz region on September 8, 2023, killing over 2,900 people and injuring more than 5,500. While reconstruction efforts have visibly advanced in certain areas, a significant number of survivors continue to face housing insecurity and bureaucratic obstacles in receiving state compensation.

In the High Atlas village of Ighermane, approximately 50 kilometers southwest of Marrakech, recovery has been relatively successful. Omar Saeed of the Ighermane Association for Development and Solidarity reported that about 90% of the village has been rebuilt. Among the 150 families, 114 received state support, though most supplemented government aid with personal funds.

Mohamed Ait Belaid, a 72-year-old resident, now lives in a newly constructed home smaller than the one destroyed in the tremor. He received 80,000 dirhams (approximately €7,300) from the state and contributed an additional 100,000 dirhams from his own savings. “I’m at peace because my wife, my children and I are all healthy and I haven’t lost any of them,” Ait Belaid told DW.

However, just 40 kilometers away in Azgour, the situation remains dire. Larbi Ait Jelloulat, also 72, sits amidst the rubble of his former home, having spent three years navigating administrative hurdles without success. A former council employee who saved for years to build his house, he was excluded from aid because officials question his residency status. “I want to know where my rights have gone,” he said. “For three years, I’ve been going from one department to another, from one complaint to another, just looking for an answer. Why have I been excluded?”

In Azgour, which was among the hardest-hit villages, only 76 families have received reconstruction assistance, while 56 others remain waiting. Ait Jelloulat noted that even those who managed to rebuild in different locations are struggling to connect to water and electricity.

The High Atlas Development Agency (ADHA), established in October 2023, stated in March that 54,425 homes have been built or rehabilitated, with over 3,000 still under construction. The government has disbursed more than 7.2 billion dirhams (€656 million) to affected families, covering both rebuilding costs and emergency monthly payments.

Mohamed Belmejjad, an architect based in Marrakech, argued that the pace of reconstruction has been positive given the logistical challenges. He cited the difficulty of reaching remote mountain villages immediately after the quake, the need to clear rubble, and the complexity of transporting materials and relocating sites to avoid landslides. Additionally, he pointed to a shortage of local expertise, including architects and contractors.

Despite these explanations, the National Coordination for Al Haouz Earthquake Victims reports receiving complaints from more than 3,000 families who have received no state aid. Montasser Itri, a member of the coordination committee, criticized the government’s approach. “The government is trying to make us, the victims of the Al Haouz earthquake, into mere statistics linked to the progress of construction and the removal of tents,” Itri said. “Rather than treating us as human beings and with dignity.”

Itri explained that many excluded families were disqualified because their national identity cards listed addresses in unaffected areas, often because they had moved for work. The committee has called for an independent investigation into how local authorities handled payouts and has organized protests in the capital, Rabat.

As the country approaches general elections on September 23, frustration among displaced residents is growing. Fawzia Aliban, whose home in Amizmiz is damaged, expressed hope that political promises would lead to action. “Prime Minister [Aziz] Akhannouch promised us a solution to the issue and God knows we are waiting,” she said. Meanwhile, Mohamed Belkaid, who lives in a tent with his four children because he is listed as a tenant rather than an owner, remains skeptical. “They promised to review our files, asking us to trust them and to vote for them… If they truly wanted to solve the problem, they would have done so before the elections,” he said.