Earthquake Rebuilding with Communities in Morocco

The High Atlas Foundation is proud to share the progress that has been made working hand in hand with communities towards rebuilding strong foundations after the earthquake.

Immediate Response and Ongoing Relief

September 8, 2025 marked two years since the devastating earthquake that occurred in the Al Haouz province of Morocco. In the immediate aftermath, the High Atlas Foundation (HAF) and partners delivered emergency assistance to nearly 15,000 families across hundreds of villages in affected areas. To date, we have distributed over 690 tons of essential aid, with particular focus on hard-to-access mountain communities. We have provided 183 intermediate shelter structures to families and cooperatives, constructed with durable materials to provide safety and stability during the longer-term reconstruction phase.

Agricultural Recovery

The earthquake caused extensive damage to agricultural terraces that are essential to mountain farming livelihoods. We have facilitated the reconstruction and expansion of 307 terraces (approximately 17 hectares), benefiting over 4,000 people. This work directly supports the reestablishment of agricultural practices and income generation for farming families.

Water Infrastructure Rehabilitation

Damage to water systems has been among the most critical challenges, affecting both household water access and agricultural irrigation. Our water infrastructure program has included:

• Construction of 8 potable water tanks and 16 irrigation basins
• Construction of 12.06 kilometers of new irrigation canals and rehabilitation of 23.9 kilometers of existing canals
• Installation of 6,000 meters of agricultural piping
• Installation of 62.3 kilometers of potable water pipes
• Solar power systems for 12 water wells (467 solar panels) and installation of 11 solar pumps

These investments address immediate water security needs while supporting sustainable agricultural production.

Psychosocial Support Programming

We have conducted psychosocial empowerment workshops reaching 2,647 women, 1,849 children, and 147 men in affected communities. Assessment data shows that 99% of participants report reduced feelings of isolation, citing both strengthened community bonds and acknowledgement from external support organizations. The workshops have addressed not only earthquake trauma but also broader challenges related to poverty, social pressures, and family dynamics. Gender-specific and age-appropriate programming has proven particularly effective, with women reporting increased capacity for leadership and children showing observable improvement in emotional well-being.

Literacy and Skills Development

We have trained 5 teachers to deliver literacy programming for 7 women across five women’s cooperatives. This initiative supports economic independence and community leadership development. We have received requests from 380 additional villages to implement our Family Literacy Program, representing significant demand for expanded programming.