One year after the devastating earthquake that shook Morocco on September 8, 2023, much has changed. Significant progress has been made, particularly in the rehabilitation and reconstruction of homes across the most affected regions.
In the province of Al Haouz, more than 11,000 foundations have already been dug, representing 47% of the overall number of homes destroyed or severely damaged by the quake. These efforts have been hailed as an important milestone in the nation’s recovery, a demonstration of Morocco’s resilience and determination to overcome tragedy.
Across the province, approximately 23,360 homes have been demolished to clear the way for rebuilding, and so far, 1,000 new housing units have been delivered to those displaced. For the thousands who lost their homes and loved ones, this has brought much-needed relief.
Families have praised the government’s monthly financial support of 2,500 dirhams ($260), which has allowed some to find temporary rental housing while others stay with relatives. In many parts of Al Haouz, rebuilding efforts have restored a sense of normalcy, with many families expressing hope for the future as they await the completion of their new homes.
Yet, as is often the case in the aftermath of large-scale natural disasters, progress has not been evenly distributed. While thousands are benefitting from these State-led reconstruction efforts, 8,187 households in Al Haouz province remain in a state of limbo.
These families continue to live in tents – some of them makeshift shelters made from plastic tarps and salvaged materials – relying on what little aid they can receive. For many, the progress happening elsewhere feels like a distant dream. They were not counted in the initial census conducted in the chaotic days following the earthquake, and as a result, they have been excluded from permits and State aid.
They are struggling to survive in the harsh conditions of the Al Haouz climate, facing sweltering heat in the summer and the looming threat of winter’s freezing cold.
Barlaman Today recently visited one such village, Mchadil, located just a few kilometers from the epicenter of the quake Talat N’Yacoub, a village that suffered catastrophic losses. In Mchadil, displaced families from the neighboring villages of Amsd and Tifni have found temporary shelter after their homes were completely destroyed by the quake.
The relocation was supposed to offer these families a respite from the devastation, but the conditions in which they now live are anything but comfortable.
The journey to Mchadil is an eye-opening experience in itself, revealing the isolation these communities face. The road has deteriorated over time, particularly after the earthquake and subsequent heavy rains.
Boulders frequently tumble from the surrounding mountains, blocking access and isolating villages like Mchadil for days at a time. The road’s rough terrain is a mirror of the daily struggles the villagers face as they attempt to navigate the aftermath of the earthquake and its lasting effects.
When Barlaman Today arrived in Mchadil, the welcoming smiles of the residents stood in stark contrast to the grim reality of their living situation. For the past year, these families have been forced to live in tents—fragile shelters that offer little protection against the elements. The tents are a poor substitute for the homes they once knew, and each day brings new challenges as they try to adapt to their temporary circumstances.
Almost all the villages in the Al Haouz province have received the State’s financial aid and the first part of the reconstruction support, which includes as a first part 20,000 MAD intended for excavation, determining house dimensions, and addressing topography issues.
The State has allocated 140,000 MAD for fully destroyed homes and 80,000 MAD for partially collapsed ones. However, a small number of villagers have not benefited from any aid, keeping them still waiting for the assistance they desperately need to rebuild their lives.
The delay in rebuilding and restoring the residents’ homes stems from technical, logistical, and physical challenges. Driving away from the municipality of Ouirgnae, some stretches of the road leading to the villages close to the earthquake epicenter had already been in a bad condition to the extent of being completely impassable due to the rocky terrain of the mountains. The earthquake further worsened the already poor condition of these roads.
Some villages are isolated for this reason, even though the residents have received the first installment of financial assistance for reconstruction. The problem lies in the fact that the roads do not allow trucks carrying building materials to reach the sites, and the distance of the villages from raw material suppliers increases the cost of construction.
One woman, who fled to Mchadil from the village of Tifni, shared her story of loss and survival. “I live here with my elderly mother, my brother, and his wife. We are staying thanks to the kindness of my cousin, who allowed us to set up a tent on his land, next to his house. The house was built before the earthquake, but we are too afraid to sleep under the concrete roof, in case there’s another quake. We don’t want to take that risk.”
Her journey to safety was nothing short of harrowing. “Two days after the earthquake, I carried my mother on my back. She’s old and can’t walk. As we left the village, rocks were still falling from the mountains, hitting us as we tried to find a safe path. The road was already difficult before the earthquake, but afterward, it was completely gone.”
Her brother suffered unimaginable loss—he lost both his wife and his child in the earthquake. “Six souls were lost from our family that night, and in the neighboring village, 100 people died. There was no way to contact anyone for help. The communication lines were down, and we were cut off from the outside world.”
The woman recalled the moment when aid finally arrived. Helicopters flew in to deliver food, blankets, and other necessities, but landing in the mountainous terrain proved nearly impossible. “They had to drop the supplies from the sky,” she said. “Much of it was damaged when it hit the ground—especially the milk and cheese.”
Like many others, she dreams of returning to her village to rebuild her home and her life. Before the earthquake, her family had cultivated walnut, almond, and olive trees, their source of livelihood. But now, her village is inaccessible, blocked by debris that only large machinery can remove. For now, she remains in Mchadil, waiting for the day she can return home.
Life im Mchadil is a constant struggle. The villagers have done their best to create a sense of home within the confines of their tents, fashioning makeshift kitchens, sleeping areas, and even small living rooms. But the conditions are far from ideal. During the summer, temperatures soared above 40 degrees Celsius, making life under the plastic tarps unbearable.
“It was like living in an oven,” she said. As the rainy season approaches, the residents now fear that flooding could destroy what little they have left. And with winter on the horizon, they worry that their tents won’t be able to withstand the weight of snow. “Our tents are not strong enough to hold up in the winter,” she explained.
Water, once abundant in their village, is now a scarce resource. With the relocation of two villages to Mchadil, the water demand has tripled, and the ongoing drought has made the situation even more dire. The villagers rely on donations of water from nearby communities, but it’s never enough.
Hygiene is another serious concern. The lack of proper sanitation has forced the villagers to use makeshift toilets, which poses a significant health risk, especially as water becomes scarcer. Electricity is also a rare commodity, with only a few families having access to solar power. Most of the village remains without light.
Education for the children in Mchadil is another ongoing challenge. The local school cannot accommodate the growing number of students, and many children have been sent to nearby villages to study in small Coranic schools (Msids). Others have fallen behind in their education, unable to continue their studies in the current environment.
The villagers also face growing safety concerns. The tents offer little protection from the elements or from potential threats. Recently, a tragic incident occurred when a child drowned in a water basin. The ambulance arrived hours too late.
“We live in constant fear for our children’s safety,” the woman said. “Whether it’s accidents, thieves, or other dangers, we can never fully relax. Thirty of the women here are widows, and we have no security. We don’t sleep well at night, always worrying about what could happen.”
The lack of access to proper medical care only compounds the villagers’ fears. The nearest dispensary is two hours away by foot, and even there, medicine is in short supply. For serious medical needs, the villagers must travel to Isni or Tahnaout, which is a two-hour car ride—if they can find transport, as the local cars only run twice a week.
Barlaman Today is committed to bringing the stories of those who have been overlooked by the broader recovery efforts. Earlier this year, in March, we visited Douar Adassil in the Chichaoua region, where the reconstruction process was already underway. At that time, early stages of rebuilding offered a glimmer of hope for the local community.
Today, that hope has become a reality for many. Nearly 80% of the population of Douar Adassil has almost completed rebuilding their homes. These families are now preparing to move into their new residences, ready to restart their lives after a year of unimaginable hardship. The progress in Douar Adassil stands as a beacon of hope, a testament to the resilience and determination of the Moroccan people in the face of disaster.
But for the families of Mchadil and other villages like it, the path to recovery is much longer. While the Moroccan people showed great solidarity in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, the long-term support needed by these communities has been slow to arrive.
For those living in tents, under the weight of fear, loss, and uncertainty, their suffering continues. Their hope to return to their land, to rebuild their homes and their lives, remains distant. For them, the struggle to rebuild is not yet over, and they continue to wait for the day when they, too, can move forward.