Moroccan citizens aid earthquake victims, frustrated with slow action

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
11 Sep 2023 11:46

Residents from Al-Hoceima in northeast Morocco, the site where a 2004 earthquake left 628 people dead, have assembled a group of 13 people in two vans and two cars to bring food to the al-Haouz villages.

Residents flee their homes after an earthquake in Moulay Brahim village, near the epicenter of the earthquake, outside Marrakech, Morocco, September 9, 2023 (AP)

After regular citizens complained of slow action by authorities to tackle the deadly earthquake that left massive damage and 2,122 dead, they jumped to aid and took action instead.

Maria Boujdig, an insurance broker who lives in Agadir, one of the villages hit hardest in the epicenter of the earthquake, al-Haouz province, stocked up her car with food to distribute and help those in need.

"I got calls from families saying they had nothing to eat," Boujdig told AFP, adding: "So I spent 10,000 dirhams ($980) on food to help in my own small way."

"The tragedy of the dead is made worse by the terrible conditions faced by the survivors," she said, calling it "catastrophic and serious to be hungry in these conditions. It was only natural for me to help."

Here's how #Morocco looks a day after the terrifying earthquake. Moroccans mourned their lost loved ones as rescue operations continued in search of survivors under the rubble.#MoroccoEarthquake #المغرب #زلزال_المغرب #زلزال_مراكش #تضامنا_مع_المغرب pic.twitter.com/wmOHoRT7C4
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) September 10, 2023

Another citizen, Mohammed, who lost his 16-year-old daughter in the quake said: "Twenty-four hours after it happened, we decided to take things into our own hands because there was no one else to help us," adding: "We made sure that everyone had something to eat."

Citizen Mustapha El-Machmoum stated: "There's no sign of the authorities for the moment. We're so isolated here. Without benefactors, we would starve."

El-Machmoum lost his mother, brother, grandfather, three cousins, and the wives of two of his uncles in the tragedy.

"We asked the authorities for tents yesterday, but nothing arrived," El-Machmoum told AFP. "We're sleeping on the ground in the cold. Adults can cope with this, but not the children."

'The needs are enormous'

Mohamed Belkaid, a volunteer, drove from Marrakesh and filled his car with packs of water.

"I wanted to help people affected by the earthquake. On the way, many people asked me about the situation in Tafeghaghte, so I decided to go there," Belkaid said. He urged "everyone to mobilize" to include "authorities, but they seem to be absent."

Residents from Al-Hoceima in northeast Morocco, the site where a 2004 earthquake left 628 people dead, assembled a group of 13 people in two vans and two cars to bring food to the al-Haouz villages.

Said Ouael El-Haj from Al-Hoceima told AFP: "We lived through this in 2004, so it's completely normal that we step in to help", as they delivered the aid to multiple villages nearby such as Sour Tahannaout.

"It's the first aid we've received since the earthquake," said Mohamed Bakka from Sour Tahannaout.

A supermarket near Marrakesh was being filled by citizens with 10-kilogram (22-pound) bags of flour, water, milk, fruit juice, and other food.

Blood is one of the most needed supplies in hospitals in such circumstances, as thousands of surgical operations are performed simultaneously and continuously in more than one hospital in areas affected by the earthquake.

Groups such as Draw A Smile and Lions International are aiding victims as well. Ilias Ghassani, the general secretary of the local section of Lions International Red City, said: "We're trying to do our best, but the needs are enormous".

Rescue teams continue to be underway from many corners of the world, such as Algeria, Spain, and Iran.