Morocco: 2023 earthquake, a tale of unity, solidarity, resilience

2023 will be remembered in Morocco as the year when a powerful earthquake struck several regions of the Kingdom on September 8th, leaving nearly 3,000 martyrs and many injured.

But with tragedy comes unity. The quake, which hit hard the remote Atlas Mountain villages, has shown the strong bonds existing between the Throne and Moroccan people. It has also shown the country’s resilience fueled by the Moroccans’ outpouring solidarity that was hailed worldwide.

Immediately after the devastating tremors, King Mohammed VI convened an emergency meeting and ordered the mobilization of the Royal Armed Forces, governmental departments, security services, local authorities, and civil protection units to take all emergency measures to intensify field relief efforts and provide care to the victims & their families.

Morocco’s Royal Armed forces deployed important human and logistical air and land resources, Search & Rescue teams, and medical-surgical field hospitals. To coordinate relief aid, the Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity mobilized all its bodies to support and deliver assistance to citizens in affected areas.

Warehouses for storage of basic necessities (medicines, tents, beds, food…etc.) were set up in every region hit by the tremor. The national blood stock was beefed up, drinking water, food kits, tents and blankets were provided to the affected population.

The King held several working sessions devoted to the situation on the ground following the earthquake, devising emergency rehabilitation and aid programs to reconstruct as soon as possible the destroyed homes in the affected areas.

On Sept.12, the Sovereign visited the Mohammed VI University Hospital in Marrakech, where the Monarch enquired about the condition of the wounded, victims of the quake.

The King visited the resuscitation and hospital departments set for earthquake victims, where the Sovereign was informed of the state of health of the injured and the care they were receiving from the medical teams mobilized in the wake of this major natural disaster.

During this visit to the hospital, King Mohammed VI donated blood, a powerful gesture expressing the Monarch’s full solidarity and compassion for the victims and their grieving families.

Thanks to the Sovereign’s leadership and wise guidance, Morocco moved from the phase of rescue to the phase of reconstruction through the implementation of a program worth $12 billion in the six quake-struck regions.

The program, which spans over a five-year period, covers the provinces of Marrakech, Al Haouz, Taroudant, Chichaoua, Azilal and Ouarzazate. A population of 4.2 million is expected to benefit from this ambitious and integrated program which aims at rebuilding houses and upgrading infrastructures as well as strengthening socio-economic development in targeted areas.

Funding for this major program comes from the State budget, contributions from local authorities and the Special Solidarity Bank Account dedicated to managing the effects of the earthquake, as well as through donations and international cooperation.

All components of Moroccan society also showed an inspirational outpouring solidarity with those affected by the earthquake by donating money, blood, food, medicine, tents, and clothing.

The international community was impressed by the Moroccan solidarity and cohesion when they saw Moroccans in supermarkets donating their carts filled with packs of water, milk, flour, canned goods, and cakes. Roads linking Marrakech to the towns and villages of the Atlas Mountains were congested with heavy and light vehicles.

King Mohammed VI has lauded the resilience and the values of solidarity and social cohesion shown by Moroccans of all walks of life following the earthquake.

In his speech delivered at the opening of the fall session of the Parliament, the Monarch said “this tragedy has shown that authentic Moroccan values have prevailed. They have enabled our country to overcome adversity and crises, again making us not only stronger, but also more determined to forge ahead, with unwavering confidence and optimism.”