Severe flooding between December 2025 and February 2026 has displaced thousands of people in northwestern Morocco, forcing families to observe Ramadan in emergency shelters as they await aid and reconstruction. Among them is Ahmed El Habachi, a 37-year-old plasterer who now breaks his fast in a tent surrounded by mud and debris rather than with family. He is one of many residents uprooted after intense rainfall triggered flash floods, overwhelmed river basins and exposed weaknesses in urban drainage systems across the region.
For displaced families, the holy month’s traditions have been disrupted. Abdelmajid Lekihel, a 49-year-old street vendor, says daily routines such as gathering after evening prayers or even accessing hot water have become difficult. Many shelter residents say they are surviving “day by day,” with limited services and few comforts. Fear and trauma persist alongside material losses. Mansour Amrani, a 59-year-old security guard, says his family struggles to sleep, worried that flood-damaged homes near rivers could still collapse. Residents report ongoing anxiety as waters remain high and buildings structurally weakened.
Authorities have begun damage assessments, registering affected households and documenting losses. Acting on High Royal Instructions from Mohammed VI, the government announced an emergency support and reconstruction program to assist victims of what officials described as an unusually severe weather event. While aid plans are in place, many families remain in temporary shelters weeks after the floods, uncertain when they will be able to return home or rebuild their lives.
