Rabat – Head of the government Aziz Akhannouch chaired a major meeting on Tuesday to assess the reconstruction of communities hit by the Al-Haouz earthquake in September 2023.
The session also marked the third gathering of the Strategic Orientation Council of the High Atlas Development Agency (ADHA), established to oversee the program’s implementation.
Akhannouch welcomed the progress made so far and called on the agency and all stakeholders to step up their efforts to complete remaining projects quickly and provide practical support to affected families, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s office.
The Director General of ADHA reported that work on 54,425 homes has already concluded, while construction continues on more than 3,000 additional units.
Financial aid for affected families has exceeded MAD 7.2 billion ($765 million), including MAD 4.7 billion ($499 million) dedicated to rebuilding homes and infrastructure, and MAD 2.5 billion ($265 million) provided as emergency support to over 63,000 families.
Infrastructure recovery has focused on clearing debris, reopening roads, and repairing bridges. Current projects cover 288 kilometers of roads, 49 bridges, and 8 kilometers of road signage, with progress levels ranging between 10% and 90%.
The education sector has seen 1,718 schools earmarked for reconstruction and rehabilitation.
Work has finished at 372 schools, while 1,090 others have started projects across Al Haouz, Taroudant, Azilal, Chichaoua, and Ouarzazate. In healthcare, 110 centers have reopened after repairs, while 37 more have entered reconstruction after receiving support in the form of a MAD 562 million ($59 million) budget.
Agricultural recovery includes the delivery of livestock and barley to farmers and the restoration of irrigation networks. Fourteen drinking water systems have returned to full operation. In tourism, 235 hotels and accommodations have reopened, representing nearly all of the establishments targeted for support.
The social economy sector has also benefited. A total of 180 cooperatives received complete funding for renovation and equipment, while 1,101 craft workshops received their first tranche of grants.
Cultural recovery remains a priority, with 1,239 mosques having reopened and restoration projects in progress at 64 historical and archaeological sites.
The Strategic Orientation Council reviewed the overall program execution, approved ADHA’s 2026 action plan for state projects, and endorsed the agency’s budget for the year, signaling continued government commitment to the rehabilitation of the High Atlas region.
The Al-Haouz earthquake, which struck in September 2023, remains one of the most destructive natural disasters in Morocco’s recent history.
The powerful quake hit remote mountain areas south of Marrakech, where fragile housing and difficult terrain amplified the scale of the damage.
Thousands of homes collapsed or suffered severe cracks, entire villages faced destruction, and critical infrastructure such as roads, schools, and health centers sustained heavy losses.
The disaster also caused major human casualties and displaced tens of thousands of residents, many of whom lost both shelter and sources of income.
