Ifghane (Al Haouz) – For Mohamed Errouhi, one of the residents of Ifghane who has been severely affected by the September 8, 2023 earthquake, the sheep and ewes were more than just a source of income – they were “family members.”

In the heights of this hamlet perched on a mountainside at 1,647 meters above sea level in the province of Al Haouz, Mohamed spent his entire life surrounded by his flock, watching over their well-being and protection day and night. Until the day the earth shook.

“I felt a violent tremor as if the mountain was disintegrating. There was nothing I could do in the face of nature’s fury. Divine will is unstoppable,” he confided to MAP.

In the blink of an eye, his flock, made up of around thirty sheep, was decimated. A huge loss for this small shepherd, whose life had been rhythmically tuned to the bleating of sheep, the mountain heights, and the intoxicating smells of aromatic plants.

Faced with such adversity, others might have given up – not Mohamed. Despite a tinge of sorrow, his
hollow eyes suddenly light up with a spark that reflects his perseverance.

Far from sinking into despair, strengthened by the resilience of those who have learned to live in harmony with Mother Nature, he gathered his courage and began to rebuild a new sheepfold.

The rebuilding of his flock started with ten sheep and ewes, given with the help of the state, a precious source of relief for Mohamed and the many other disaster victims, all eager to turn the page and move forward.

“With this life-saving gift, a monthly subsidy, ten sheep, and barley, I regained the taste for life and the sense of joy. I now have hope of restarting my activity,” he says, his voice alternating between expressions of gratitude and signs of thankfulness.

A year later, Mohamed, determined to grow his flock, displays a cheerful enthusiasm, his smile radiating deep satisfaction. The loss of his previous flock is now just a distant memory.

Every morning, he rises at dawn to continue writing a new chapter in this story of renewed hope
and determination. He continues, as before, to graze his sheep in the mountains, watching his flock grow each day – along with his dreams.

Like Mohamed, thousands in the Al Haouz region are reconnecting with life and hope, determined to climb back up with the active support of the Special Fund for Managing the Consequences of the Earthquake. A beautiful lesson in life and hope.

Source: Agence Marocaine De Presse