Morocco’s earthquake solidarity lessons

The Moroccan King, government and people set an example of national solidarity following the devastating earthquake that killed 3000 in the Atlas Mountains.

Few hours after the earthquake struck on Sept 8, the King gave his instructions to authorities to speed up rescue and relief and ensure the quake-stricken population had proper shelter.

He then visited quake victims in a hospital in Marrakech and ordered the launch of a fund to rebuild the destroyed area as well as to ensure cash handouts and reconstruction aid to people whose homes were damaged or demolished.

The difficult Atlas Mountains terrain and landslides were defied by Moroccan rescuers and civilians who took matters in their hand without foreign assistance.

While the norm is to run away from quake-hit areas, Moroccan civilian aid caravans keep flowing to quake-hit areas to this day bringing food, blankets, tents and backing authorities in other relief areas.

Morocco’s social media is awash with civil society activities including building schools and delivering containers to villagers ahead of the snowy season.

Some analysts say Morocco prioritized its own people’s solidarity to foreign assistance as it only accepted aid from four countries: Qatar, Spain, the UAE, and the UK, who sent their rescuers.

Morocco however has said that foreign aid can contribute to the financial effort to rebuild the area. The country has set up a special fund that has so far gathered over 1 billion dollars in donations.

Morocco plans to invest 12 billion dollars to develop the High Atlas area focusing on reconstruction and the upgrade of infrastructure.

The wave of citizens’ solidarity and the efficient earthquake response by authorities despite the rugged roads and difficult terrain are once again showing traits inherent to the Moroccan people of solidarity in adversity, a spirit of solidarity, described by many, including by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, as exemplary.