Youssef El Khalil Much damage can still be seen in the streets of Amizmiz
NOS Nieuws•vandaag, 19:30
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Samira Jadir
Morocco correspondent
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Samira Jadir
Morocco correspondent
The victims of the major earthquake that struck southern Morocco at the beginning of September are facing a tough winter. In the weeks after the disaster, there was plenty of medical assistance available and food and clothing was distributed. The Moroccan government also promised emergency housing to the more than 3,300 families who lost their homes. But three months later, the majority of these people are still sleeping in tents.
Si Mohamed lives at an altitude of 2000 meters in a small village on Mount Aissas. Help comes here sporadically. The roads to the village are narrow, unpaved and flanked by an abyss sometimes hundreds of meters deep. Volunteer organizations do not come here because it is difficult to get building materials here. There are government officials who take stock of what residents need.
Except for a few houses, nothing is left standing. With winter approaching, with temperatures dropping below freezing at night, there is a particular need for housing.
Si Mohammed is also without an income due to the earthquake. Because his father died in the disaster, he can no longer go to the surrounding towns to work there. “I still have young children. My wife is scared and I can’t leave her here alone. My father always protected my wife and children when I was not around.”
Commitments
Two weeks after the earthquake, government commitments were made regarding reconstruction and temporary housing. The restoration of the villages would take about five years. But plans to accommodate the residents of the affected villages in other locations proved difficult to achieve from the start. For most people in the disaster area, agriculture is the only source of income and it is not an option to temporarily live in another city.
Youssef El Khalil Much damage can still be seen in the streets of Amizmiz
To compensate for the loss of income, victims can apply for special benefits. They then receive a monthly amount of 2,500 dirhams (approximately 225 euros) for one year. Applicants do need a Moroccan identity card for this.
In many cases it is still under the rubble and victims must first be registered again. Despite the large-scale campaign that the government has launched to achieve this, it may take months before everyone actually receives this financial support.
Dissatisfaction
For the residents of the lower town of Amizmiz, the lack of help in October was another reason to take to the streets. Mustapha had a successful catering company here before the earthquake. He mainly relied on weddings for his income. “No one has gotten married since the earthquake. People just don’t have the money for it now,” he says.
Because monthly benefits only started being paid on November 1, October was a month of survival. Mustapha and his family have not yet received any money in November.
Mustapha shows devastation in Amizmiz, three months after the earthquake:
In the village of Amizmiz, most residents are still waiting for help
The last time Mustapha and his fellow townsmen saw government activity was when gravel and plastic were brought in. This allowed them to make their tent camp rainproof, after the first rain of the year turned it into a large mud puddle. “If only the promises had never been made. Now we expect them to keep them,” says Mustapha.
According to the government, the reconstruction of Amizmiz is progressing so slowly because aid is first provided to cities and villages that have been hit even harder.
Positive exception
A four-hour drive from Amizmiz, the village of Ait Wa’Abid is a promising example. A complete emergency village has been built here by the Faailkhair Foundation, a volunteer organization. Volunteer Oussama Gouifrda emphasizes that this project was a success because residents and local authorities were actively involved. “The village was built on a piece of agricultural land donated by one of the villagers.”
According to him, the construction of the emergency village took just over two weeks. “If we have to wait for the government, it will take a very long time. The people now need temporary shelter.” The emergency village offers shelter to 30 families and, according to those involved, cost approximately 80,000 euros.
The emergency village of the earthquake victims of Ait Wa’Abid:
Help arrived in Ait Wa’Abid and the residents now have a temporary village
The quickly built and relatively cheap emergency housing can be a solution to help thousands of people get through the winter, but it is still not an easy task for volunteer organizations like Gouifrda. “We are completely dependent on donations. We would like to help in several places.”
For the people in Amizmiz it doesn’t matter who helps them, as long as help comes. They preferred to do it all themselves. “But the people have no money,” says Mustapha. “Their money is still under the rubble.”
2023-12-16 18:30:01
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