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Doha – An extensive field investigation by the Moroccan League for Human Rights Defense (LMDDH) has exposed serious shortcomings in the distribution of housing aid to victims of the Al Haouz earthquake that struck in September 2023.
The report, released last week, reveals a stark contrast between official figures and ground realities, with 16% of affected families receiving no assistance despite losing their homes entirely.
This figure directly contradicts official data from the interministerial committee, which acknowledged only 2.7% of families (1,652 households) were left without support.
This discrepancy calls into question the effectiveness of the relief program implemented in the aftermath of the disaster.
“I received neither the monthly MAD 2,500 ($250) stipend nor any housing reconstruction support, even though my house completely collapsed. I nearly lost both legs in the earthquake,” one victim told investigators.
He added that despite filing multiple complaints and participating in protests, his situation remains unaddressed.
The LMDDH documented that 79% of respondents whose homes were completely destroyed received only MAD 80,000 ($8,000) instead of the promised MAD 140,000 ($14,000).
Moreover, 82% of affected residents declared this amount “grossly insufficient” to cover reconstruction costs, particularly considering the inflated prices of building materials in mountainous terrain.
Flawed assessment process undermined by irregularities
The investigation uncovered troubling defects in the evaluation process. Local assessment committees, mandated to include seven members, frequently operated with just four representatives, primarily local authority agents such as sheikhs and moqaddems.
These understaffed teams conducted rushed evaluations without proper examination of damages.
Residents from one of the douars in Angal community in the Amizmiz district accused authorities of applying “double standards” when determining aid recipients.
According to their testimonies, certain families received support while others in more vulnerable situations were excluded, pointing to potential favoritism and corruption in the distribution process.
The report notes an especially concerning finding: 5% of surveyed victims reported facing extortion attempts by local officials to access their entitled aid.
Though the Ministry of Interior has initiated legal proceedings against perpetrators of such acts, the problem appears pervasive enough to warrant a broader investigation.
Transparency concerns were prominent in the findings, with the League criticizing the absence of published recipient lists and eligibility criteria, which fueled distrust and resentment among affected communities.
Data discrepancies and culturally Inappropriate reconstruction plans
The investigation pinpointed substantial contradictions in official data regarding destruction levels. According to the interministerial committee, completely collapsed houses totaled 5,835 while partially damaged structures reached 53,603.
However, the Deputy Minister of Finance in charge of the Budget presented starkly different figures to Parliament, stating that affected houses reached 59,674, with 32% (over 19,094) completely collapsed and 68% (40,578) partially damaged.
This discrepancy potentially reduced the number of families eligible for complete aid packages (MAD 140,000) by approximately 14,000 households.
“The number of completely collapsed houses should logically increase due to aftershocks and weather conditions, not decrease,” the League stated in its report, questioning the reliability of the official statistics.
The architectural approach to reconstruction drew sharp criticism for its cultural insensitivity. The report discovered that while the average size of damaged homes measured approximately 170 square meters, the new designs offer merely 76 square meters – a dramatic reduction that fails to accommodate rural mountain lifestyles.
An overwhelming 98% of respondents expressed dissatisfaction with the architectural style of new constructions, which rely heavily on cement rather than traditional building methods that have characterized the region’s cultural identity for generations.
Based on these findings, the League has urged immediate reforms, including swift investigation of pending complaints, deployment of mixed field committees to verify eligibility claims, and a thorough review of support levels for those who received reduced compensation.
It also recommended increasing the number of certified engineers to expedite the rebuilding process and implementing a comprehensive development plan addressing economic, social, and environmental aspects of recovery.
Read also: Over 33,600 Families Rebuild Homes After Al Haouz Earthquake
