As summer approaches, Al Haouz quake victims face a second scorching season in plastic tents

As Morocco braces for another summer, hundreds of families affected by the devastating Al Haouz earthquake of September 8, 2023, remain stuck in precarious conditions. Many who lost their homes are still living in plastic tents, facing what activists describe as a “second unbearable summer” marked by soaring temperatures, wildlife threats, and slow reconstruction efforts.

Civic activists and residents warn that these makeshift shelters are turning into “mobile ovens” under the scorching sun, particularly in hard-hit areas like Taroudant near Marrakech, where summer heat is especially intense. Concerns also mount over the increased presence of wild boars, venomous snakes, and scorpions—posing added risks to already vulnerable communities.

Montassir Ithri, a local resident and member of the National Coordination for Al Haouz Earthquake Victims, described the dire conditions. “After enduring a blazing summer and a freezing winter last year, we’re now entering yet another brutal summer in plastic tents,” he told Hespress AR. “People are forced to spend most of their day outdoors, in fields, just to escape the suffocating heat inside.”

According to Ithri, the majority of victims still live in tents, while many others excluded from state aid—an issue highlighted by human rights reports—struggle without the means to rebuild. One report cited by Ithri found that 16% of affected families were excluded from financial assistance, while 80% of recipients received inadequate support to reconstruct their homes.

Houcine El Meshet, a member of the Civil Coalition for the Mountains, echoed similar concerns. “Plastic tents and even mobile homes become like furnaces during summer. It’s unacceptable that people are still living in such conditions when sports infrastructure and other facilities are progressing rapidly,” he said. “This is not just a physical issue—there’s a serious toll on mental health as well.”

Local resident Mohamed Azfaf from the village of Tamtrka in the Taroudant province highlighted an additional challenge: wild boars. “These animals roam near populated areas searching for water and threaten the already fragile shelters,” he said. Azfaf also warned about the increased danger from snakes and insects during summer.

Azfaf further criticized delays in reconstruction, blaming both government inefficiencies and individual misuse of aid. “Some people who received all four payment installments have not rebuilt their homes because they own secondary residences. Meanwhile, those truly in need remain in tents,” he stated.

Residents and activists alike are urging the government to act decisively. “The only real solution is to speed up reconstruction and ensure every victim can return to a stable home,” said El Meshet. “Everything else is a stopgap measure—and an inadequate one at that.”