A year after Morocco’s devastating earthquake: The impact on women and children
Written by Amal Ouachhou
Photo: Haouz earthquake 2023 aftermath / Lucyin / CC BY-SA 4.0
“No shower, no hospital… I have diabetes and I can’t find my medication… Our mental health is very bad after what happened.” These are the words reported in Anfas Press from a woman victim of Morocco’s devastating 2023 earthquake.
On the night of September 8, a 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck the Al Haouz region, near Marrakech. The earthquake caused massive destruction and losses, affecting over 2.8 million people, including 100,000 children. Numerous houses, mosques, health centres and schools were destroyed, leaving the population in complete chaos and critical living conditions.
The situation for women in Al Haouz was already precarious before the earthquake. Women and girls in the region had limited access to education, making them vulnerable to forced and child marriages. Al Haouz and its surroundings are very isolated, with inadequate healthcare and hygiene facilities, and access is difficult. During the rescue phase after the earthquake, helicopters were necessary due to the area’s challenging infrastructure. Despite these conditions, women actively managed their households and supported their families, often engaging in unpaid labour.
The government response to Morocco’s earthquake
In response to the disaster, the Moroccan government promised reconstruction and set a general rehabilitation programme.
Prime minister Aziz Akhanouch stated: “The government has mobilised all its resources for the optimal implementation of the general reconstruction and rehabilitation program… the government’s challenge lies in responding to the expectations of the local population with the necessary speed and efficiency by mobilising various public institutions.”
Approximately 26,800 houses had been destroyed either completely or partially. More than 50,000 families were promised monthly support of $250 in response, and local authorities were tasked with identifying families eligible for government aid.
However, eleven months after the earthquake, many people are still crying for help, calling on the government and authorities for assistance. Numerous individuals have been denied government support. The situation has either remained unchanged or worsened since September 2023, with many still living in tents after rainstorms and extreme weather conditions in March this year.
In June, the Minister of National Territory Planning and Housing, Fatima Zahra Mansouri, was questioned during the plenary of the Chamber of Representatives about the rehousing measures for Al Haouz victims. She stated, “We give $250 monthly to the victims… If they can’t support living in a tent…they can go and rent.” This response shows a lack of awareness of people’s living conditions, as $250 is insufficient to cover rent, food, and other expenses. As a result, the government’s management of this crisis has been widely criticised for its inadequate response and lack of accountability.
Lack of inclusivity leaves people in desperate situations
Additionally, reports and testimonies from earthquake victims reveal that widows, minors who lost their family members, large extended families and individuals with disabilities were excluded from the government’s plan.
“We didn’t receive anything. We keep coming each month but always get the same answer: come back next month. Look at that man — he’s in a wheelchair, as is his wife, and he’s taking care of six children, but he didn’t receive any aid,” one woman told Al Omq Al Maghribi, a Moroccan press outlet.
The government has not been clear about the conditions for receiving aid. The exclusion of these specific groups suggests that the government believes only able-bodied men can lead and take care of households, disregarding the efforts of women and those living with disabilities in the region. These groups of people managed to live their lives and make a living without government help before, but since the earthquake they have lost their livelihoods and no one appears to be listening to their suffering.
The Moroccan government used “the social state” as their slogan in their electoral campaign, but their current management of the crisis shows that they only care about specific people. Their overall approach has been non-inclusive, leaving multiple vulnerable groups in even more desperate conditions.
Perpetuating harmful gender stereotypes
The current approach to addressing the needs of women, particularly divorced women, widows and single mothers, fails to recognise them as heads of households, which perpetuates harmful gender stereotypes.
Due to the lack of healthcare facilities, pregnant women are at high risk and are often compelled to travel to nearby cities without the means to do so, potentially leading to complications. A gender-sensitive approach is critical in effectively managing such crises. It is essential to provide comprehensive healthcare facilities staffed with competent doctors and equipped for monthly checkups and safe delivery. Moreover, it is crucial to ensure the provision of menstrual products to young women and girls in the region.
Unfortunately, divorced women and widows have not been able to access aid from the government, leaving them and their children without any means of support. They have the right to own a house, take care of their children, and make their own decisions without male authority. However, in practice, these rights are often not upheld, leading to a lack of support and autonomy.
School dropouts and the absence of education
The current focus on housing overlooks other essential infrastructure, such as schools, clinics and roads that were destroyed by the earthquake. Due to the absence of schools, boys and girls started studying in unsuitable tents only in late December 2023, missing a whole semester of their academic year.
Moreover, children are not only leaving school early due to the lack of facilities, but also because many still suffer from the psychological trauma of the earthquake and the loss of loved ones.
Keeping these children in school requires a multi-sectoral approach, involving the intervention of psychologists to support them to stay in education and teachers who understand the delicacy of their situation.
While the Moroccan government has made some efforts toward reconstruction, the needs of people, especially women and vulnerable groups, are far from being met. A more inclusive and comprehensive approach is necessary to address the various dimensions of this crisis and to ensure the wellbeing and recovery of the affected population.
This story was produced as part of ‘How to write for impact’, a mentorship programme created by NADJA Media for members of Politics4Her, a feminist youth-led digital platform advocating for the inclusive participation of young women in leadership. To find out more email hello@nadja.co
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