After the Earthquake: Reconnecting Remote Villages to Essential Services

In September 2023 Morocco was struck by a 6.8-magnitude earthquake that claimed thousands of lives, damaged almost 60,000 houses, and crippled key infrastructure. Almost two years later, reconstruction remains slow in the High Atlas region near Marrakesh, particularly in remote villages that are hard to reach due to damaged roads and challenging terrain.  

This is the third phase of an ongoing humanitarian response for earthquake-affected provinces. The initial phases, implemented by Helvetas’ Alliance 2015 partner Acted and local organizations, focused on meeting affected populations’ most urgent and basic needs. Recovery activities are now transitioning towards resuming children’s education, creating safe spaces to gather, ensuring access to water and sanitation services, and helping people build back better.  

Getting school back in session

The earthquake left an estimated 20,000 students without safe and functional schools. School buildings damaged by the earthquake are being rehabilitated so children can resume their studies. Teachers and parents will also receive training on maintaining the buildings.   

Restoring access to safe community spaces

Women’s centers and boarding schools for young women are undergoing repairs to ensure girls and women affected by the earthquake have a dedicated safe and supportive space to live and gather. The women will also receive training on maintaining these spaces.

Ensuring access to water and sanitation services

Ongoing needs assessments, as well as requests from local authorities and community representatives, show that rehabilitation and reconstruction of water supply systems and sanitation structures are a top priority – and essential for reducing the risk of waterborne diseases. Training sessions will be held for local WASH committees, with a focus on infrastructure maintenance and promoting good sanitation and hygiene practices.

Rebuilding safer houses

Tens of thousands of people affected by the earthquake have been displaced and are living in temporary shelters. The urgency to rebuild is clear, but the new structures must be designed to be safer and more resilient to future natural disasters. Skills training will be made available for local masons and artisans on anti-seismic and modern eco-construction techniques. The training will build on traditional construction practices so that local knowledge and expertise is integrated rather than replaced.