Asharq Al-Awsat Speaks to Survivors of Devastating Morocco Earthquake

A building in Amizmiz is levelled by the earthquake. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
A building in Amizmiz is levelled by the earthquake. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Asharq Al-Awsat Speaks to Survivors of Devastating Morocco Earthquake

A building in Amizmiz is levelled by the earthquake. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
A building in Amizmiz is levelled by the earthquake. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The deadly earthquake that struck Morocco last week has devastated the town of Amizmiz, some 56 kms from Marrakech.

Abdulrazak, a local, told Asharq Al-Awsat how his wife, maid and 22-year-old disabled son miraculously survived the quake even though it levelled his home, located in the al-Qasba neighborhood.

He recalled that he was preparing to have dinner with his wife, who said she would join him as soon as she finished prayers.

“I was about to serve the meal when I felt the house sway and one section of the roof collapse. There was dust everywhere and then the power went out and water pipes burst,” he added.

“I heard my wife scream and then nothing,” he revealed, expressing his alarm that she had been injured. He later found out that the force of the quake tossed her out of the window. She clung on to the window frame and was found by a neighbor who helped her regain her composure.

Abdulrazak said he helped drag his son from under the rubble and along with the maid, fled from the house.

“We were terrified and couldn't believe that we had survived,” he remarked.

Elsewhere in Amizmiz, a young man, Walid, stood by the levelled Montania café. An Amizmiz local, he was pursuing an education in nearby Marrakech.

He recalled how, along with his family, they were forced out of their home when the earthquake struck and spent the night outside.

He said the café was located next to their home and two people were killed when it collapsed. Two other people were saved. The patrons managed to leave the café before it was turned into rubble, he added.

He revealed that all houses near his family home were damaged in the tremor, rendering them unsafe.

He added that his mother prevented his father from returning to their home to salvage some clothes and important documents out of fear for his safety.

Walid guided Asharq Al-Awsat to the most damaged neighborhoods. “This is a complete catastrophe,” he said mournfully.

Ambulances whizzed past as Asharq Al-Awsat made its way through the town. It noted nine ambulances and a Qatari rescue team comprised of three vehicles. It also noted aid trucks and Royal Armed Forces that were helping in the rescue efforts.



Compensation Delays Leave Beirut Southern Suburbs’ Families in Ruined Homes

A man surveys the damage caused by Israeli airstrikes on the southern suburbs last week. (EPA)
A man surveys the damage caused by Israeli airstrikes on the southern suburbs last week. (EPA)
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Compensation Delays Leave Beirut Southern Suburbs’ Families in Ruined Homes

A man surveys the damage caused by Israeli airstrikes on the southern suburbs last week. (EPA)
A man surveys the damage caused by Israeli airstrikes on the southern suburbs last week. (EPA)

In Beirut’s southern suburbs, amid buildings scarred by war, residents continue to suffer from severe damage to their homes caused by the recent conflict.

In the Mrayjeh and Saint Therese neighborhoods, locals face a harsh reality of ruined houses, stalled compensation, and unfulfilled promises, while reconstruction projects remain frozen amid deep uncertainty.

In Mrayjeh, where the destruction still marks the walls of homes, Ali, a resident, told Asharq Al-Awsat about the near-total damage to his house.

He said: “After my home was almost completely destroyed, we were told there was an urgent reconstruction plan and that compensation would be paid within a few months. But the reality is completely different.”

“All we actually received was four months’ worth of shelter allowance starting in January, totaling no more than $2,000. After that, all aid stopped, and we have not received any financial support to repair the damage,” added Ali.

On the scale of his losses, Ali said: “My home is no longer habitable. It was completely damaged—from the walls to the floors, from water and electricity networks to furniture that was entirely ruined. I barely managed to salvage anything.”

“Yet, I have received no compensation for the losses. Since the damage occurred, I have been covering all costs out of my own pocket. So far, I’ve spent more than $10,000, and I’m still at the beginning of the road. In my estimation, I need at least another $30,000 to restore the house to a livable condition.”

But the biggest shock came in recent weeks, when they were officially informed that restoration work in the building was halted “until further notice.”

Ali explained that the entity responsible for the repairs, appointed by Hezbollah, told them bluntly: “Funding has stopped, so no work can continue. All they managed to do was reinforce a support wall on the ground floor, then they stopped and left as if nothing happened.”

The building is now at risk of total collapse, with many families either displaced or living in inhumane conditions.

Regarding their appeals to the authorities, Ali said: “All our inquiries receive the same response: ‘There is no funding currently, please wait.’”