RAJA KHAYRAT

Morocco- The earthquake that struck Morocco on September 8  killed 2,946 people and injured 5,674. In the country, hundreds have been still missing. The search and rescue teams still work in the village of Tamassit, located in Al Haouz province of Morocco. However, rescue teams and ambulances could not reach some villages due to the collapsed roads. 

In Al Haouz, almost all houses were destroyed in the earthquake. In an interview with NuJINHA, the women of the Tamassit village of Al Haouz said they had to rebuild their houses before the start of winter. While some families are lucky to find tents, some try to build shelters that can protect them from sunshine in the day and the cold weather at night.

‘I did not think that the death was so close’

Zahra İhyadin talked about the frightening moments that she had experienced. “We always watched disasters on TV and thought we survived such events, but I never thought that we would experience such an earthquake, I never thought that death was very close to us. My house collapsed, we left our house without taking anything. More than 20 people in our village were killed in the earthquake. Now, we stay in a tent.”

17-year-old  Sayda Ad Hammo is one of the survivors of the earthquake in the village. She has stayed in a tent along with many women and children. She could barely speak due to fractures in her chest and shoulder. Her brother and sister also survived the earthquake; however, they have lost their mother. I was in Casablanca when the earthquake occurred. Then, we learnt that the center of the earthquake hit Al Haouz. We called many people in Al Haouz; however, they did not answer. My sister and brother survived the earthquake; however, our mother died.

They receive no aid

“We were having dinner when we heard a sound like thunder,” said Amina Ait Idar, one of the quake survivors. “We ran towards the door. I do not remember how we could go out because the ground was shaking. There were many people outside and all were in fear. I could only hear the cries of children. We have lost our house, everything. Until now, we have received no humanitarian aid yet.”

They are worried about winter

The quake survivors, who have set up tents along the road between the town of Tahanaout and Asni region, are worried about what they will do in winter. “Two years ago, we were asked to stay at home due to the Covid-19 outbreak but now we are asked not to enter our houses. We do not know what we should do now. We are waiting for humanitarian aid now,” said one of the quake survivors.

Latifa Mumay told us what they had experienced when the earthquake hit Morocco. “I was in my room when the earthquake began to shake us. I thought it was the end of the world. I found my father and we immediately went out. We gathered in front of our houses and waited to see what would happen. Then, we heard that many houses collapsed and many people died.”