RAJA KHAYRAT

Marrakesh- The September 8 earthquake that struck Al Haouz region of Morocco has killed 2,946 people and injured 5,674 people. Thousands of people are still missing in the country. The schools in the town of Asni located in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains in Morocco have been destroyed by the earthquake. Many children from Asni have to go to schools in Marrakesh, far away from their families. The situation is worsen for the girls, who say that they face many difficulties in living away from their families.

Hacer Ebu El Asafir, a middle school student, said, “When we were waiting near the tents after the earthquake destroyed our houses, the school principal came and told us that we would continue our education in Marrakesh. Most girls refused to continue their education in Marrakesh because they did not want to be away from their families. It was a problem for me because my family lives in Marrakesh.” She told us that they were subjected to various types of bullying by the students of the El Mokhtar Soussi Middle School and said, “We protested the situation.”

‘We live in fear’

Marwa Ait Al-Sheikh, another student, told us she and her fellow students had many difficulties in Marrakesh because they were away from their families. “Actually, our families visit us every weekend but we live in fear due to ongoing aftershocks.”

‘We have been subjected to bullying’

Salima Ait Taleb, a seventh grade student, first went to a school in Marrakesh and she told us the situation at this school was good for them but then they were sent to another school in Marrakesh. “We have been subjected to bullying there by students and some teachers because they did not want us.” Salima Ait Taleb does not want to live away from her family because whenever she hears about new aftershocks she is afraid of a new disaster.

Living away from her family is very difficult for Wafa Ed Ali, a sixth grade student. She has two sisters but they stay with their family, waiting to continue their education.

‘We demand alternative and acceptable solutions’

    

Ibtissam Akray has two daughters, one is a sixth grade student, and the other is a fifth grade student. “We do not want to be away from our children. We have been going through difficult situations and we did not expect our children would be taken away from us. My daughters are too young to live away from us. There is no one who can support them in Marrakesh. We are unable to bear the burden of being away from our daughters. Many parents do not send their children to school because they do not want to be away from their children. We demand alternative and acceptable solutions.” 

Call on authorities to find effective solutions for students

In an interview with NuJINHA, human rights activist Sanaa Boufos commented on the situation of children studying in tents. “The girls and boys of the region are still suffering from several problems. One of the problems faced by them is distance. They have to come from distant areas in order to continue their education. Some parents in the surrounding villages absolutely refuse to allow their daughters to stay in tents, away from them.” Sanaa Boufos called on authorities to find effective solutions for students.