Morocco: Growing frustration over lack of relief in remote areas

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
13 Sep 2023 14:19

The 7.2-magnitude earthquake that struck Morocco has claimed the lives of 2,901 people and injures 5,530 others.

This picture taken on September 12, 2023, shows a view of affected buildings in the earthquake-hit village of Sidi Hassaine in al-Haouz province in the High Atlas mountains of central Morocco (AFP)

Many survivors of the strongest earthquake to hit Morocco in more than a century are facing difficult conditions in the temporary shelters they are staying in after spending a fourth night outdoors.

Villagers in mountainous areas devastated by the earthquake expressed their frustration at not receiving any help from the Moroccan authorities.

State television said the 7.2-magnitude earthquake that struck the High Atlas Mountains late on Friday claimed the lives of 2,901 people and injured 5,530.

The earthquake is the deadliest in terms of death toll in the North African country since 1960 and the most powerful in more than a century.

Rescue teams from Spain, Britain, and Qatar joined Moroccan search efforts for possible earthquake survivors, while Italy, Belgium, France, and Germany said Morocco had not yet accepted their offers of assistance.

Nevertheless, despair gripped people in remote areas isolated by landslides resulting from the earthquake, at a time when relief efforts intensified in accessible places by setting up shelter camps and distributing food and water.

Hopes of finding survivors have faded due to, among other things, the large number of traditional mudbrick houses spread throughout the High Atlas region. After houses collapse, mudbrick turns into piles of dust, leaving no room for air.

Many village residents have suffered from power and telephone outages since the earthquake, and they said they had to rescue, on their own, their loved ones and retrieve bodies buried under the rubble of their destroyed homes without any help.

The residents of the village of Kettou, which was destroyed by the earthquake, were lucky to all survive because they preferred to enjoy traditional music in an outdoor courtyard at a village wedding rather than staying in their homes built of stone and mudbrick.

In the village of Amizmiz, which is located at the foot of a mountain and has been turned into an aid center, authorities provided some displaced people with tents, but others are still living under blankets.

In Marrakesh, some historical buildings were damaged in the old city, which is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The earthquake also caused major damage to the historic Tinmel Mosque, which dates back to the 12th century.

More modern areas of Marrakesh have been largely spared, including a site near the airport designated for meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank scheduled for next month.

Sources said more than 10,000 people are expected to attend the meetings that the government wants to move forward with.

Morocco on Sunday said it had accepted aid from Spain, Britain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, but did not accept offers from Italy, Belgium, France, and Germany.

Germany said it did not believe Morocco's decision was motivated by political reasons, but Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told RTL radio that Morocco chose to receive aid only from countries with which it has close relations.

On his part, French President Emmanuel Macron said late Tuesday discussions about the state of French-Moroccan relations over aid for earthquake victims should "cease".

"It is obviously up to His Majesty the King (Mohammed VI) and the government of Morocco to organize international aid in complete sovereignty and we are available to respond to their sovereign choice," Macron said in a video message posted on X, formerly Twitter.

"I would hope that all debate that divides, and that complicates this moment that is already so tragic, will cease as a matter of respect for everyone," he said.

It is noteworthy that the epicenter of the earthquake was located in al-Haouz province, which extends mostly over the High Atlas Mountains, where landslides made it difficult to reach the affected villages.

How much do you know about #alHaouz Province, where the #Morocco earthquake struck?#MoroccoEarthquake pic.twitter.com/N0skO07Stg
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) September 10, 2023

Moroccan rescue personnel, with the support of foreign teams, are trying to expedite operations to find potential survivors and provide shelter for hundreds of families who lost their homes. These efforts come in parallel with popular initiatives to support earthquake victims, as dozens of trucks and vehicles loaded with food and relief aid, such as blankets and mattresses, flocked to the accessible affected areas, as per social media platforms.