A total of 63,766 families affected by the Al Haouz earthquake are receiving monthly aid as of October 25, Mustapha Baitas, the government spokesperson, said at a press briefing in Rabat on Thursday.
The government has allocated MAD 9.5 billion to assist the victims affected by the earthquakes that struck Morocco’s Al-Haouz region on September 8, 2023, Baitas said.
He also announced a five-month extension of the MAD 2,500 emergency payment to support families in rebuilding, with an estimated cost of MAD 750 million.
Nearly 52,000 families have received direct financial assistance totaling MAD 1.7 billion, he added.
The reconstruction process for damaged homes is divided into four phases, each requiring government inspection before progressing to the next stage.
Baitas described aftermath management as a “major and complex process” that requires extensive support, tracking, and guidance, which the government is actively providing to victims.
However, many families remain frustrated by the slow pace of recovery, as they have been living in tents and temporary housing for over a year.
Al-Haouz is notoriously difficult to access. The village itself sits atop the Atlas Mountains and can only be reached by narrow pathways or helicopters.
The challenging terrain limits access for construction vehicles, slowing reconstruction efforts.
Despite these obstacles, residents, with help from aid organizations, have used traditional building methods, such as adobe—clay and straw poured into wooden molds.