HIBAPRESS – Abdellatif Baraka
In the mountainous community of Tikouka, in the Taroudant region, the recent snowfall, which exceeded 70 mm in some villages, has deepened the suffering of the population affected by the September 8, 2023 earthquake, who are still living in a state of waiting between tents and houses that have been rebuilt incompletely.
Despite the rehousing of some families, a number of these dwellings have proven to be colder than the tents, due to the absence of heating and the adoption of designs that do not take into account the specifics of mountainous areas and the winter season, such as triangular roofs intended to cope with snow accumulation. This has prompted some residents to leave them and return to temporary shelters. The harsh cold wave revealed the limitations of the technical studies adopted in the reconstruction program, which neglected adaptation to the harsh climate, exacerbating the suffering of children and the elderly. In light of the continued weather fluctuations, the population demands a review of the construction models adopted, to ensure housing that preserves dignity and protects against the harshness of winter instead of increasing the suffering after the earthquake.
