The newspaper ‘El País’ portrays the victims of the Morocco earthquake one year later and highlights ADRA Spain’s shelter project
Olga Calonge – Director of ADRA Spain
The newspaper EL PAÍS publishes on Monday, September 16, a photo report depicting the lives of the victims of the Morocco earthquake one year after a natural disaster that caused 3,000 deaths and severe material damage in the Atlas Mountain region. The report highlights the temporary shelter construction project developed by ADRA Spain and the Moroccan organization Al Ofoq in the village of Imi N’ougarzi, located about 15 kilometers from the earthquake’s epicenter.
Journalist Sou Harris and photographer Matias Chiofalo traveled through some of the most affected areas by the earthquake of September 8, 2023, interviewing several victims. Among them is Fatima, 88 years old, who was one of the residents of Imi N’ougarzi who lost her home and is now temporarily living in one of the shelters from ADRA’s project. “I have nothing, just the hope that one day I will be able to have a home again,” she tells El País. Fatima’s story and that of her neighbors was narrated by ADRA in another report in the Spanish Adventist Review.
This project, which consists of 54 temporary shelters, was inaugurated by ADRA Spain on April 13 with the delivery of keys to nearly 200 families benefiting from the relocation. Khadija Atidar, one of the residents, explains to El País that “every day is a struggle.” “They promised us help, but all we’ve received are empty words. We are tired of waiting,” she comments, referring to the assistance promised by local authorities.
The report highlights that, after the earthquake, “for months, tents were the only refuge, exposing people to the elements.” It adds that in Imi N’ougarzi, “thanks to international aid, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) and the Al Ofoq association provided temporary housing to 200 residents after seven months of precarious conditions.”
54 shelters and 200 families
With the key handover, ADRA concluded seven months of work in Morocco in close collaboration with Al Ofoq, a nonprofit organization that has been key in identifying the most affected villages. Its president, Bouker Bennani, emphasized at that time ADRA’s commitment to the quality of the constructions. “ADRA could have settled for building 10-square-meter houses and moved on, but they didn’t,” he explained. “ADRA doesn’t do that. There are people who will live here for two or three years, and ADRA wants to give them the best: 32-square-meter houses, with showers, water, kitchens, play areas for children, safety measures, etc.”
This project has been funded by ADRA International, ADRA Germany, ADRA Japan, ADRA France, ADRA Czech Republic, ADRA Austria, ADRA New Zealand, ADRA Finland, ADRA Italy, ADRA UK, ADRA Spain, ADRA Middle East and North Africa Union, and the Teruel City Council. In the future, the goal of this project is that when these houses are no longer used as temporary shelters, they can be repurposed to host artisan cooperatives and other businesses that will improve the local economy of the village.
Complete report from EL PAÍS:
[https://elpais.com/planeta-futuro/2024-09-16/la-desesperacion-de-las-victimas-del-terremoto-de-marruecos-nos-prometieron-ayuda-estamos-cansados-de-esperar.html](https://elpais.com/planeta-futuro/2024-09-16/la-desesperacion-de-las-victimas-del-terremoto-de-marruecos-nos-prometieron-ayuda-estamos-cansados-de-esperar.html)
