Citizens of Moroccan town rally for assistance after earthquake, staging a protest

Residents of Amizmiz, a town in Morocco, have held protests against local authorities following a devastating earthquake that destroyed their homes. Amizmiz was among the hardest-hit areas during the earthquake, which occurred on 8 September. The earthquake, the worst in Morocco in over 60 years, resulted in the deaths of nearly 3,000 people, with thousands more injured and displaced. The residents are accusing local authorities of delaying aid and neglecting their needs. After the earthquake, authorities provided displaced families with tents in temporary camps and promised financial assistance for rebuilding their homes. However, the protesters claim that living conditions in the camps have deteriorated due to heavy rains, strong winds, and dropping temperatures as winter approaches. They also accuse local authorities of withholding assistance, including tents, from residents who lost their homes. Despite the Amizmiz Earthquake Victims' Coordination group, the organizers of the protest, withdrawing their support after local authorities pledged to address their concerns, the protest took place on Tuesday. The group stated that authorities had promised to expedite assistance, including providing new tents to those who hadn't received any or whose tents were damaged by the harsh weather. The authorities had also committed to improving sanitation, providing access to water and electricity for the displaced. As part of efforts to rebuild the affected regions and support the more than 4.2 million affected individuals, Morocco's King Mohammed VI announced a 120 billion Moroccan dirham ($11.6 billion; £9.4 billion) plan over five years. This plan includes the provision of 140,000 dirhams in reconstruction aid to each household with a completely destroyed home and 80,000 dirhams for households with partially damaged homes. Additionally, the government has begun disbursing 2,500 dirhams in monthly assistance to each affected household through a year-long cash relief program. Morocco's government faced criticism for declining some offers of international aid despite many urgently needing assistance following the earthquake. Activist Maati Mounjib commented that prioritizing sovereignty and national pride at such a moment was a mistake and that aid should be accepted since even developed countries seek external help in similar disasters.