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Tourism Gradually Returns to Marrakech, Children Prepare to Resume School

Moroccan army personnel carry school desks into a tent in Amzmiz, El-Huz. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Moroccan army personnel carry school desks into a tent in Amzmiz, El-Huz. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Tourism Gradually Returns to Marrakech, Children Prepare to Resume School

Moroccan army personnel carry school desks into a tent in Amzmiz, El-Huz. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Moroccan army personnel carry school desks into a tent in Amzmiz, El-Huz. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

As Moroccan authorities grapple with delivering aid to survivors in the remote mountainous regions ravaged by the catastrophic earthquake that struck El-Huz, the situation in Marrakech, one of the prominent cities impacted by the tremor, seems to be gradually returning to normal.

Tourists have started flocking to the historic areas for which Marrakech is renowned, albeit with caution, as local authorities have erected barriers to prevent access to some landmarks that have shown signs of damage.

The city seems closer to its usual rhythm, though UNESCO has expressed significant concern about the harm inflicted on some of its World Heritage-listed sites.

The liveliest activity is observed during the night, with an influx of foreign visitors converging on the heart of the commercial city.

Shops have reopened their doors, and restaurants and cafes are once again welcoming tourists, according to Reuters.

Marrakech boasts a wealth of historic treasures, including World Heritage sites, such as Ksar Bahia, parts of which collapsed due to the earthquake.

The 6.8-magnitude quake, which struck on September 8, also impacted numerous other historic buildings, including the Almoravid Dome, Badi Palace, Ben Youssef Madrasa, and Bahia Palace.

The Jemaa el-Fnaa Square, which was among the most visited places in the past two days, remains a bustling hub.

Not far from Marrakech, in the Amzmiz region, which was one of the hardest-hit villages, hundreds of children and teenagers are regaining some hope after the earthquake shattered many of their dreams.

Army units set up on Friday tents in their schoolyard in preparation for resuming their education.

The Ministry of Education had announced the suspension of classes in the most affected villages due to varying degrees of damage to 530 educational institutions.

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Arab World

As Syrian Opposition Sweep into Aleppo, Army Closes Airport and Roads

A destroyed Syrian army tank in the village of Anjara on the outskirts of Aleppo, Nov. 29. (AP)
A destroyed Syrian army tank in the village of Anjara on the outskirts of Aleppo, Nov. 29. (AP)
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As Syrian Opposition Sweep into Aleppo, Army Closes Airport and Roads

A destroyed Syrian army tank in the village of Anjara on the outskirts of Aleppo, Nov. 29. (AP)
A destroyed Syrian army tank in the village of Anjara on the outskirts of Aleppo, Nov. 29. (AP)

Syrian authorities closed Aleppo airport as well as all roads leading into the city on Saturday, three military sources told Reuters, as the groups opposed to President Bashar al-Assad said they had reached the heart of Aleppo.
The opposition fighters, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, carried out a surprise sweep through government-held towns this week and reached Aleppo nearly a decade after having been forced out by Assad and his allies.
Russia, one of Assad's key allies, has promised Damascus extra military aid to thwart the opposition, two military sources said, adding new hardware would start arriving in the next 72 hours.
The Syrian army has been told to follow "safe withdrawal" orders from the main areas of the city that the opposition have entered, three army sources said.
The fighters began their incursion on Wednesday and by late Friday an operations room representing the offensive said they were sweeping through various neighbourhoods of Aleppo.
They are returning to the city for the first time since 2016, when Assad and his allies Russia, Iran, and regional Shi'ite militias retook it, with the insurgents agreeing to withdraw after months of bombardment and siege.
Mustafa Abdul Jaber, a commander in the Jaish al-Izza opposition brigade, said their speedy advance this week had been helped by a lack of Iran-backed manpower in the broader Aleppo province. Iran's allies in the region have suffered a series of blows at the hands of Israel as the Gaza war has expanded through the Middle East.
The opposition fighters have said the campaign was in response to stepped-up strikes in recent weeks against civilians by the Russian and Syrian air force on areas in opposition-held Idlib, and to preempt any attacks by the Syrian army.
Opposition sources in touch with Turkish intelligence said Turkiye, which supports the opposition, had given a green light to the offensive.
But Turkish foreign ministry spokesperson Oncu Keceli said on Friday that Turkiye sought to avoid greater instability in the region and had warned recent attacks undermined de-escalation agreements.
The attack is the biggest since March 2020, when Russia and Turkiye agreed to a deal to de-escalate the conflict.
CIVILIANS KILLED IN FIGHTING
On Friday, Syrian state television denied opposition had reached the city and said Russia was providing Syria's military with air support.
The Syrian military said it was fighting back against the attack and had inflicted heavy losses on the insurgents in the countryside of Aleppo and Idlib.
David Carden, UN Deputy Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis, said: "We're deeply alarmed by the situation unfolding in northwest Syria."
"Relentless attacks over the past three days have claimed the lives of at least 27 civilians, including children as young as 8 years old."
Syrian state news agency SANA said four civilians including two students were killed on Friday in Aleppo by insurgent shelling of university student dormitories. It was not clear if they were among the 27 dead reported by the UN official.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that Moscow regarded the attack as a violation of Syria's sovereignty.
"We are in favor of the Syrian authorities bringing order to the area and restoring constitutional order as soon as possible," he said.