Displaced Morocco earthquake victims stage a demonstration seeking immediate housing assistance
Protest Over Exclusion From Earthquake Reconstruction Programme in Morocco
Residents from quake-hit areas in Morocco took to the streets in protest, demanding inclusion in the country's reconstruction programme following a devastating earthquake in 2023. The protest, which took place outside parliament in the Moroccan capital, saw protesters holding signs that read "No to exclusion, no to marginalisation" and "A roof for every life, dignity has no price".
The 6.8-magnitude earthquake that occurred on September 8, 2023, destroyed tens of thousands of homes in central Morocco, including in the High Atlas mountain range. The disaster forced families to sleep out in the open through the winter.
Aicha Ouchane, a resident from the affected Ouarzazate province, traveled to join the protest. She, along with her mother, are currently living in a garage under "very harsh conditions". Ibrahim Achkijou, 30, is still living in a shipping container south of Marrakesh, describing his situation as a "big injustice" because he was excluded from the aid without explanation.
The Moroccan authorities announced a five-year reconstruction plan with an estimated budget of $11.7 billion following the earthquake. However, the reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts have received more than $465 million so far, and the data on Ouarzazate and Azilal provinces is not included in the latest official tally. As of the latest official tally, 45,800 homes have been rebuilt in the provinces of Al Haouz, Chichaoua, Taroudant, and Marrakesh.
The search results do not provide information about the number of houses built in the provinces of Ouarzazate and Azilal as part of the reconstruction after the 2023 earthquake. The reconstruction plan does not seem to have included all the affected provinces.
The protesters were protesting their exclusion from the reconstruction programme. They are calling for a fair distribution of aid and for the government to ensure that no one is left behind in the rebuilding process. The government has yet to respond to the protesters' demands.
This is a developing story and we will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.
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