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Rabat – Around 200 Moroccan citizens who were affected by the Al Haouz earthquake have taken to the streets to express their frustration over the delay in the disbursement of financial assistance. The aid is intended to help those affected rebuild or repair their properties.
The protesters marched on Thursday from their villages towards the governorate of Al Haouz province to engage with local officials and other authorities. They sought answers regarding the delayed receipt of financial aid, despite being previously identified by the supervisory technical committees overseeing the matter.
Prior to yesterday’s protest, other earthquake-stricken citizens organized a demonstration in the town of Talat N’Yaaqoub over the same issue. The town was extremely close to the epicenter of the disaster.
However, a significant number of demonstrators reportedly withdrew their protest after receiving their codes for financial aid, promptly initiating the necessary procedures for rebuilding or repairing their affected properties.
Converging reports attributed the delay in disbursing the financial assistance to the overwhelming workload that the committees in charge of processing the requests are facing. They reportedly have been receiving a large number of requests from hundreds of citizens in various regions, even those minimally affected by the earthquake.
The earthquake, which hit on September 8, caused severe destruction in various regions, including Al Haouz, Taroudant, Chichaoua, Marrakech, Ouarzazate, Youssoufia, Tinghir, Azilal, and Agadir.
Read also: Morocco Extends Financial Aid to Earthquake-Hit Tourism Businesses
The disaster claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 people and injured thousands of others. It has left a trail of destruction, particularly affecting small, isolated villages scattered across Morocco’s mountainous region in the Atlas.
Many earthquake-stricken populations found themselves homeless after the earthquake destroyed their houses. The harsh winter conditions have exacerbated their crisis as many of them currently live in tents.
Local authorities have reportedly urged affected citizens who meet the eligibility criteria to be patient, assuring them that all concerned victims will benefit from the financial aid without exception. They emphasized the dedicated efforts being made to navigate through this challenging phase.
Meanwhile, protestors have highlighted a lack of communication regarding the delayed financial aid distribution, urging officials to keep citizens updated regarding the situation.
