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By Sam Metz
AMIZMIZ (AP) – Rachid Alachoun is a 40 year old plumber who washes his clothes on top of the house. The roof is visible to the left of the half of the building.
Alachoun was one of the survivors who survived the earthquake which struck Morocco on Friday. Authorities reported that 2,946 people died and thousands were injured.
He has been staying in the home of his family in Amizmiz, near Mellah (the old Jewish district), despite having to navigate boulders and cables to reach his bedroom or kitchen. The tent the authorities provided him and his family is not big enough.
His life continues at home.
The chairs in the remnants are smothered with dust from the broken walls. Inside, there are also large items that can’t be moved — such as a refrigerator, washing machine and tables.
In a neat area, he cooks olives, chicken and carrots in a pot of clay on a gas stove. It is particularly dangerous when there are aftershocks, like the 4.6 magnitude tremor that occurred on Thursday morning.
Last Saturday, the Alachouns received word that help was coming. They received food and water, but lacked shelter. On Tuesday the authorities provided them with one of 30 yellow tents that were set up near Amizmiz’s center in a small square.
They told us to wait for supplies to arrive. “So we waited”, Alachoun’s sister Loubna said, from the tent that she shares with her brother, another, their father, and mother, as well as a family friend.
Alachouns and other Moroccans have begun to ask questions about the future, especially as winter draws nearer. Although many villages have received food and water from officials, it may take up to five years for towns to be rebuilt in the High Atlas. A special recovery fund has been created.
In parts of Marrakech’s old city, such as the Jewish Quarter that is popular with tourists, reconstruction has begun. Meanwhile, in Al Haouz, the hardest-hit province by the earthquakes, efforts are focused on the immediate needs of those affected.
Alachouns may not stay in their mountain villages until they rebuild, but people from these areas are committed to doing so. The majority of people who live in this region are Amazighs, Morocco’s biggest indigenous group. They hold on to their home with a strong attachment. They doubt any assistance would be able to get an apartment big enough for their entire family in Marrakech – more than one hour away.
Many families have small children.
Naima Brahim, an Amizmiz housekeeper, and her five children lived in Sourejdid – a neighborhood that is now destroyed – on the third level of an apartment block. As the building was shaken by the earthquake, her and her daughter both fell down the stairs. The top floor of the building had been ripped off.
Her entire community has now moved to an area of the tent city located in the middle of town. She is worried about her children, aged 25, 20, 19, 14, and 10, some of whom just began school this week.
One of her daughters is passionate about Quran reading. Her boys are fond of drawing and theatre. Fear strikes at 11 pm, when the earthquake struck last Friday.
She says that her children saw the death of their parents, and one daughter has had nightmares.
UNICEF (the United Nations organization that aids children) estimated that approximately 100,000 children were “impacted” by the earthquake. This follows an estimate by the U.N. that said 300,000 individuals had been affected. Around one third of Morocco’s population is made up of children.
UNICEF spokesperson Ricardo Pires said that during disasters and humanitarian crises, the organization is concerned about trauma caused by displacement, as well as the basic needs of children, such as clean water, medical supplies, etc.
Children are separated from their parents. Pires explained that they might be on the go, displaced and not know where to turn to for safety. This is a risk that always exists in situations of humanitarian crisis or earthquakes such as this one, when it’s difficult to get certain places.
Ait Brahim Ouali stated that she does not want to reside in an apartment complex made from bricks, even if funds were provided by the government. She is determined to remain in Al Haouz, despite all the hardships for herself and her family.
We are worried about the future. “We just began the new school term, but the earthquake ruined it all,” said the woman standing outside a tent with children playing inside. We just want to be able to get away from the rain.”
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