In a week filled with tragic events in the Middle East, North Africa has been hit hard by environmental disasters, leaving a trail of devastation and loss. The most significant of these calamities was a devastating earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale that struck the Atlas Mountains region around Marrakesh, Morocco, marking the deadliest quake in the country since 1960.
Moroccan Earthquake:
The town of Tnirte in Morocco now lies in ruins, with Spanish rescue teams tirelessly working in the aftermath. However, even their sniffer dogs, trained to detect survivors, are being sent back home. This tragedy has claimed the lives of many, particularly in rural areas where entire families have been lost to the tremors. One heart-wrenching example is Ahcan Ait Majid, a 70-year-old shepherd, who lost his wife of 50 years and two sons due to the quake. He expressed his despair, saying, “I’ve never known anything like this; I don’t know what I will do now.”
Morocco’s response to this disaster has drawn criticism, as it accepted only a limited number of offers for assistance from the international community. Surprisingly, neighboring Algeria extended a helping hand, demonstrating solidarity despite diplomatic tensions between the two nations.
Aside from the tragic loss of lives, there’s also growing concern about the damage inflicted on Marrakesh’s cherished ancient structures. This has sparked worries among Moroccan intellectuals like Hassan Aourid.
Libya’s Catastrophic Floods:
Meanwhile, on the other side of North Africa, Libya has faced its own catastrophe. The eastern port city of Derna bore the brunt of Storm Daniel, which led to the collapse of two dams and resulted in countless bodies being swept out to sea.
The scale of this disaster is staggering: over 6,000 lives lost, 10,000 individuals still missing, and 30,000 people displaced from their homes. The desperate situation has forced communities to resort to mass burials to cope with the sheer number of casualties.
Satellite imagery has revealed the full extent of the devastation, with Derna’s vulnerability exacerbated by inadequate maintenance and infrastructure. Deputy Mayor Ahmed Madroud highlighted these issues, emphasizing the urgent need for rebuilding and reinforcing the city’s infrastructure to prevent future disasters.
In conclusion, North Africa finds itself grappling with two significant environmental disasters. Morocco is reeling from its deadliest earthquake in decades, while Libya is dealing with the aftermath of catastrophic floods. As these nations struggle to recover, international assistance and a renewed focus on disaster preparedness and infrastructure maintenance are essential to prevent such tragedies in the future.
