Fatima Barri, a resident of Amizmiz, Morocco, experienced the terror of a 6.8-magnitude earthquake that killed thousands in the Atlas Mountains. Her home was damaged, leaving parts cracked and crumbling. Despite the danger, she cooked traditional meals for Ramadan in her damaged house. A 3.3-magnitude tremor two weeks ago further heightened her fear, but she had no other place to go. Many in her community are tired of waiting for normalcy to return and have moved to larger cities. For Eid al-Fitr, the holiday mood was a mix of festiveness and despair as residents honored their traditions amid the rubble.
The earthquake affected over 300,000 people in Marrakech and five mountain provinces, with more than 4.2 million residents in those areas. The government aims to rebuild schools, roads, and hospitals and assist farmers who lost their herds. However, frustration is growing on the ground, as construction crews work on rebuilding without proper guidance on earthquake-resistant construction. Protesters have marched through towns demanding government aid, and distribution issues have plagued the assistance program. The rebuilding process is expected to cost $12 billion and take five years, with international aid, including a $1.3 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund, being offered to help.
In Amizmiz, signs of resilience and life returning to normal are evident, but the road to recovery is long. Vendors sell goods, men watch TV shows, and women displaced from their homes wash clothes in community fountains. Residents survive on monthly stipends and await promised reconstruction funds. According to a survey, only 11% of those directly affected by the earthquake have received support from the government. Some villages have received temporary homes, while in Amizmiz, residents still live in tents. Community associations like Alyatim host dinners for up to 250 people during Ramadan to help those in need.
The community in Amizmiz has come together to support one another in the face of disaster. Local blacksmith Abdelaziz Smina, whose home is currently held up by wooden stilts, has not received aid from the government. Despite this, he and his family have turned to faith during Ramadan as a way to cope with the challenges they face. Smina’s neighbors are also struggling to receive assistance, hindering their efforts to rebuild. The community relies on associations for help, as they feel let down by the lack of support from the government. Amid the challenges, residents like Smina maintain hope and trust in God to guide them through the aftermath of the earthquake.
