Morocco has faced a series of natural disasters in recent years, ranging from severe flash floods to a devastating earthquake. These events have caused significant loss of life and widespread damage to infrastructure, posing considerable challenges for the country and its people. This article examines the recent disasters in Morocco, highlighting the impact, response efforts, and lessons learned.
Flash Floods in Northern Morocco
Heavy rainfall has led to dramatic flash flooding in various regions of Morocco. On March 1, 2021, the city of Tétouan in northern Morocco experienced severe flash flooding. Sadly, at least 28 people have died as a result of flash flooding in northern Morocco.
In August 2019, at least 7 people died in flash floods in Morocco after heavy rain in the south of the country. More recently, authorities in Morocco reported that 4 people have died as a result of heavy rain and flooding. The Morocco news agency MAP reported that between three and five people had been killed and a further 16 were missing after floods in southern Morocco.
More flooding has affected areas of Morocco, this time in the regions of Marrakesh-Safi and Béni Mellal-Khénifra. At least 11 people have died and 1 is missing after more flooding in the north African countries of Morocco and Algeria.
These recurring events prompted authorities to issue high-level flood warnings, highlighting the ongoing threat posed by heavy rainfall.
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The 2023 Morocco Earthquake
In addition to the challenges posed by flooding, Morocco was struck by a severe earthquake on September 8, 2023. The magnitude-6.8 earthquake struck at 11:11 pm local time near the city of Oukaïmedene in the High Atlas Mountains. Its epicenter was located about 45 miles (72 km) southwest of Marrakech, in Morocco’s Al Haouz province.
More than 2,900 people were killed and 5,500 people injured in the shallow magnitude-6.8 temblor and its aftershocks. The earthquake heavily damaged parts of the ancient section of Marrakech and devastated several remote settlements in the Atlas Mountains. It was felt as far away as Morocco’s largest city, Casablanca, and in Portugal and Algeria.
Tectonic Setting
The earthquake's epicenter was located within the northwestern portion of the African Plate approximately 342 miles (550 km) south of the boundary between the African and Eurasian tectonic plates. The African Plate is moving northward about 0.2-0.4 inches (about 4-10 mm) per year; however, at the site of the earthquake, the African Plate is moving in a west-southwesterly direction about 0.1 inch (3.6 mm) per year.
Stresses created by this complex compressional and shearing environment have produced a tight cluster of faults underlaying the High Atlas Mountains. Geologists noted that the buildup of compressional stress produced by the subduction of one side of a fault under another generated the earthquake, and rock fracturing along this fault released much of the stress-which forced one side of a reverse fault (that is, a type of thrust fault that dips at an angle greater than 30°) upward with respect to the other.
Initial estimates suggest that the upward moving block was raised up to 5.6 feet (1.7 meters) along a 19-mile- (30-km-) long section of the earthquake-producing fault.
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Extent of Damage
Damage in the earthquake zone was extensive, especially in remote mountain villages in Morocco’s Al Haouz province. In this region, nearly all of the houses and other buildings were constructed using unreinforced brick and masonry, and local building standards were either lax or went largely unenforced.
In Amizmiz, a town located in the mountains about 20 miles (about 32 km) northeast of the earthquake’s epicenter, the devastation was particularly severe; much of the town was leveled. Some small settlements also endured catastrophic losses; the town of Tafeghaghte, located about 1 mile (1.6 km) from Amizmiz, was also reduced to rubble, the earthquake killing more than 90 of its residents and shattering all but a few of the town’s 100 houses.
Since most of the buildings in Marrakech had been constructed according to modern building standards, most of the city suffered little or no damage; however, several walls and other structures in the city’s historic medina district, which dates to the 11th century, either collapsed or were heavily damaged.
Relief and Recovery Efforts
The areas hardest hit by the earthquake were located along rugged, hard-to-reach hillsides and valleys in Al Haouz province. Many of the region’s mountain roads, which were largely considered poor quality under normal conditions, were made impassable by boulders and other debris produced by earthquake-driven landslides.
These obstacles stymied relief efforts, greatly slowing the movement of rescue teams, emergency services, and heavy equipment. In the days following the earthquake, the Moroccan government faced criticism for its management of the disaster recovery. Some earthquake survivors grew impatient with the perceived lack of effort by the government to bring in relief supplies or search-and-rescue teams to reach loved ones still trapped in the rubble.
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The Moroccan government faced additional criticism for its decision to accept disaster recovery assistance only from certain countries. While search-and-rescue teams and relief organizations from Spain, Qatar, Britain, and the United Arab Emirates were allowed to enter the country, those from other countries-including France, Germany, Tunisia, Canada, and the United States-were not.
The Moroccan government noted that this decision was made so as to avoid complicating ongoing relief efforts with traffic bottlenecks on the limited road network within the earthquake zone. The government later clarified their position, stating that all aid was welcome, but it needed to enter the country through proper channels to allow for coordination in the most efficient manner possible.
Lessons for Donors and Aid Organizations
Several lessons can be drawn from the disaster responses in Morocco, particularly for donors and aid organizations:
- Infrastructure Matters: Damage to local infrastructure, including roads, ports, and airports, can hinder aid delivery, highlighting the importance of supporting organizations that assist with road clearance and infrastructure reconstruction. Better-maintained infrastructure in certain areas of Morocco made it easier for US donors to support victims of the earthquakes.
- Geopolitical Decisions Impact Aid: If donors perceive that governments and larger organizations are taking adequate action, they may feel less compelled to donate directly. However, in cases like Morocco where government responses were considered insufficient, individual donations become even more critical.
- Due Diligence is Essential: Although there are no sanctions regimes affecting giving in Morocco, donors should take a risk-based approach to due diligence when granting to the region.
- Media Coverage Affects Aid: Morocco received more news coverage and media attention than other disasters, potentially influencing donor behavior.
Recognizing what factors affect disaster responses and how they impact aid is essential for maximizing the impact of your donation.
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