In the Al Haouz region of Morocco, the district hardest hit by the earthquake has spent its nights under tarpaulins and plastic sheeting. Tents fill the open spaces between shattered or damaged houses, and even though the most basic aid has reached every corner, a single fear echoes through the camps: winter and rain are approaching. A 6.8 magnitude quake struck these mountains, about 60 kilometers from Marrakech, claiming 2,960 lives a month ago.
Overall, the situation has remained fragile. Drinking water and electricity are available, and children attend school, but families continue to sleep in tents. The looming cold threatens to worsen the hardships, so the plea is simple: people need shelter from the cold. Amid the uncertainty, many express hope for alternative sleeping arrangements once winter arrives, such as more durable huts, to replace makeshift tents.
The arid terrain, dotted with yellow, blue, and white tents, has led residents to construct a modest mosque using white tents. This space offers a sense of calm and allows residents to access essentials without worry about food, as aid distribution continues. Portable toilets are scattered across higher ground, where some houses collapsed or became uninhabitable due to fissures and cracks.
A week after the disaster, authorities began outlining reconstruction plans. A fund of 120 billion dirhams, roughly 11 billion euros, was proposed to restore the region. On the same day, government aid of 2,500 dirhams (about 230 euros) per month was announced for affected families for a year. Additional measures aim to rebuild essential facilities, including training centers and healthcare equipment. A month after the quake, traffic returned to normal on the region’s roads, though landslides and blocked routes had disrupted access in many areas.
The earthquake and mental health effects
The impact goes beyond material loss. In Azgour, a small town in the quake zone, residents recount how the mountains themselves seemed to tremble, a memory that lingers with the first images and the lingering roar of the earth. An elder described how he was sharing dinner with his family when the walls started to shake, prompting a frantic exit. The sense of vulnerability remains strong as people reflect on that moment.
A farmer who lost most of his stored reserves notes that while material losses are painful, they can be replaced. His greater concern is the possibility of landslides and further cracks in surrounding mountains. Yet he also mentions a silver lining: a new water source appeared on the far side of a nearby ridge. The community now shares this resource with the neighboring town, while relying on scarce crops that have suffered since a long dry spell began in May, underscoring how water access can both relieve and complicate life in the mountains.
The situation has prompted a sharp focus on mental health. Médecins Sans Frontières issued a warning about the psychological toll of the crisis, noting the profound shock and fear and anxiety felt by many affected people. Nurses and field workers describe the emotional aftershocks that accompany physical damage, confirming that humanitarian organizations remain deeply involved in both immediate aid and long-term recovery efforts.