Three Years On, Morocco Earthquake Survivors Still Wait for Help
Three years after a devastating earthquake struck Morocco’s High Atlas region, reconstruction has made significant progress, but thousands of survivors are still struggling to rebuild their homes and regain normal lives.
The magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck the Al Haouz region on September 8, 2023, killing more than 2,900 people and injuring more than 5,500. Entire villages were destroyed, particularly in remote mountainous areas that were difficult for emergency teams and reconstruction workers to reach.
Since then, Morocco has invested heavily in reconstruction. Government figures indicate that more than 54,000 homes have been built or rehabilitated, while financial assistance to affected families has exceeded 7.2 billion Moroccan dirhams.
But the recovery has been uneven.
In some communities, reconstruction is nearing completion. In others, families say they are still waiting for assistance or remain in tents and damaged homes nearly three years after the disaster. In Azgour, one of the hardest-hit areas, dozens of families are reportedly still waiting for reconstruction support.
More than 3,000 families have reportedly complained that they received no state assistance, with some disputes linked to residency and property documentation. Survivors and advocacy groups have consequently called for greater transparency in the distribution of reconstruction aid.
The delays have also exposed the particular difficulties of rebuilding Morocco’s remote Atlas communities, where damaged roads, difficult terrain and limited infrastructure complicated the original relief operation.
For survivors, the issue is now about more than replacing buildings. Many lost homes, livelihoods and community infrastructure, while some families remain unable to return to a stable life.
Three years after the earthquake, Morocco’s recovery therefore presents a mixed picture: a major reconstruction programme has delivered thousands of new homes, but for some victims, the promise of rebuilding remains unfinished.
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