RAJA KHAYRAT

Morocco- On September 8, a 7-magnitude earthquake hit the Al Haouz region in Morocco. According to the official reports, 2,946 people were killed, 5,674 people were injured and more than 50,000 houses collapsed in the earthquake. The earthquake has also left thousands homeless. The earthquake survivors are now worried about what they will do in winter without a shelter.

Aid convoys have not been sent to many villages located on the mountainous areas of the Al Haouz province of Morocco because of the rugged roads. NuJINHA spoke to women living in these villages.

‘We don’t know how long this situation will last’

Fatiha Bouhdaj is one of these women. She has stayed in a tent with her family. “Inside the tent is very hot in the day and cold at night. We cannot sleep at night because of barking dogs. Most women spend their days outside of the tents because inside the tents is very hot. Our children cannot go to school. We don’t know how long this situation will last.”

‘If it snows, roads will be closed’

Aisha Ait Talib and her family members left their house without taking anything when the earthquake struck Morocco. She said, “We don’t have clothes to wear. The winter is approaching, if it snows, the roads to our village will be closed. That time, we will suffer more. Our roads should be immediately repaired so that we will receive humanitarian aid before the winter. Our house collapsed and now we have nowhere else to go.”

‘We have spent all day looking at our destroyed house’

“We have spent all day looking at our destroyed house,” Fatima Ait Bella said, “We cannot stay in a tent because it is very hot. But we have to live in a tent because we have nowhere else to go. We face difficult living conditions but we do our best to adapt to the new situation. I will never forget what we experienced. It was like a nightmare and we still live in this nightmare. I hope we wake up soon.”

‘I cannot stand these living conditions anymore’

Zehra Ait Mubarak has slept outside since the earthquake. “I cannot stand these living conditions anymore,” she said, “I am an old woman. We try to adapt to the new situation, but it is very difficult. Whenever I remember the night of the earthquake, I feel like my heart is going to stop.”

Rehousing program for earthquake-affected areas

Morocco announced the launch of an aid program to support and rehouse the residents of about 50,000 buildings that collapsed completely or partially in the earthquake. The program aims to provide temporary shelter to those left homeless and the structures of temporary shelters will be designed to withstand cold and bad weather with all the necessary amenities. The government will grant a direct financial assistance of 140,000 dirhams (about $14,000) for totally collapsed houses, and 80,000 dirhams (about $8,000) for partially collapsed houses.