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Rabat – Today – September 8, 2025 – marks the second anniversary of the deadly Al Haouz earthquake in 2023, with a magnitude of 6.9.
The devastating earthquake was, and still is, described as one of Morocco’s most devastating disasters within the century. Felt across several regions, the quake left more than 50,000 homes partially or fully destroyed, claiming the lives of around 3,000 people and injured another 5,000.
The tragic earthquake brought out the best in Moroccans, who joined a national campaign to assist survivors and people in the region by sending convoys of aid that rushed in from every corner of the country.
Government institutions, private companies, and people mobilized to provide urgent relief, with thousands of Moroccans relocating to the region to provide instant, on-site help.
Tragic survivor testimonies highlight delays in reconstruction, shedding further light on societal gaps that locals in the “forgotten Morocco” suffer from.
Last week, viral videos showed people gathered for a protest on the ongoing challenges in Taroudant, where the earthquake was strongly felt by many citizens.
‘The struggle is still going on’: Protestors demand action
This morning, in front of the Moroccan Parliament in Rabat, dozens of protestors commemorated the anniversary of the earthquake, with demonstrators holding banners to condemn exclusions and delays in housing delivery.
One of the banners read: “Residents in four regions: Al Haouz, Ouarzazate, Taroudant, Chichaoua are asking why they were excluded from Al Haouz Aid?”
Other banners had similar sentiments with messages like “Right to dignified housing is a constitutional right,” “ Respect royal directives on reconstruction of housing,” and “Unconditional support for Al Haouz earthquake.”
Houssine El Messhat, a member of the Civil Coalition for the Mountain, told Morocco World News (MWN) that prior to the protest, a conference took place today, two years following the earthquake. The gathering in Rabat brought together survivors from the quake as well as activists advocating for the Al Haouz victims.
“We were hoping that after two years we would celebrate the end of the victims’ suffering, but the truth is that the struggle is still going on,” he told MWN on the sidelines.
El Messhat acknowledged that efforts have been made, but many people are still living in tents.
He cited that although the official data reports that reconstruction works have reached a 94% completion rate for earthquake-affected houses, these numbers are “not accurate.” “We don’t want to say that these are lies, but people are still suffering. We are ready to sit with the government on the ground to show them that people are still under tents,” the activist said.
He also recalled King Mohammed VI’s latest speech on Throne Day this past July, acknowledging societal gaps and challenges affecting rural areas. The monarch specifically called on the government to speed up efforts to tackle regional disparities.
“There is no place today or tomorrow for a Morocco moving at two speeds,” the King said.
“You know well that I will never be satisfied, regardless of the level of economic development and infrastructure, if it does not contribute tangibly to improving citizens’ living conditions from all social categories and in all regions and areas without discrimination or exclusion,” he affirmed.
El Mishat told MWN that mountainous areas are still vulnerable, calling on the government to “speak the truth” to citizens and deliver justice for the victims of the affected areas.
Government data
Morocco’s government has also been pledging large-scale assistance and reconstruction projects to restore housing and support those who lost their homes and everything in the devastating earthquake.
In the past few days, Moroccan news agency MAP shared a series of official statistics regarding the reconstruction projects in the aftermath of the earthquake.
The news agency said that the reconstruction operation in the provinces affected by the earthquake is “progressing at a steady pace,” noting that the projects launched in key areas reached a completion rate exceeding 90% in certain areas.
In Al Haouz province, where the damage was most severe, the report cited that reconstruction of housing has reached a progress rate of 91.33% with nearly 24,000 homes already rebuilt or rehabilitated.
The official data said that the number is expected to reach 96% by next November, adding that the government allocated MAD 890.9 million to reconstruct the road network in the region.
The statistics further said that 85% of damaged homes were rebuilt in Marrakech, amounting to over 2,620 housing units. Authorities are projecting the number to reach 96% in the coming months. MAP said that affected families have received a monthly allowance of MAD 2,500 for temporary housing, as well as subsidies ranging from MAD 80,000 to MAD 140,000 for reconstruction.
The data further indicated that reconstruction “continues to advance” in Taroudant, with 11,450 homes delivered out of a total of 15,100 identified beneficiaries.
