Blue Men of Morocco

Information and appeal for disaster flooding in Merzouga Area

This letter is geared to those who have visited the Erg Chebbie Dunes in
the Sahara Desert, Morocco and the villages of Merzouga and Hassi Lybed and know some of the local Berbers. They are the indigenous poor folks of the Sahara Desert

The night of May 26, there were severe thunder storms, hail the size of
golf balls, a lot of rain and wind which caused severe flooding in the
area. Most of the damage was in Merzouga as all the waters hit the mud
houses and destroyed over 250 houses. In Hassilybed, the river also
destroyed many houses along the river bed. In the north of the dunes
where there are some little hotels. Several were destroyed and the only
deaths- three- were in one of those hotels.

Thanks to the quick response of the government-the same night- there were
no deaths in Merzouga or Hassilybed. Many folks had to be rescued by
helicopter as they were trapped by the rivers in Merzouga and others were
encouraged to leave before the waters approached Merzouga.

Many hotels were partially or completely destroyed but the emphasis of my appeal is for help for the local folks. The government has set up 150 tents in Merzouga and 30 in Hassilybed with about 6-8 people in each tent. The tents are 4 x 4 yards and are plastic. Rugs on the floor and bottled water to drink. Blankets, bread and sardines are provided. They are lucky to go eat in the houses of others who still have houses intact. There are no sanitary provisions- they cope as they are nomad origin and use the desert for toilets.
In Merzouga, there are about 250 families who ran from their houses with only their clothes on their back, with a lesser number in Hassilybed.

There is adequate security provided by the government- military, civil
protection agency, national police. Plenty of ambulances and doctors but no one is sick and medicine is not needed. The government has started to fix the roads, trying to reestablish electricity where needed. Some telephones work in Merzouga but not in Hassi Lybed. Thank goodness for mobile phones and car rechargers!!

Friday, June 17, 2006, the King of Morocco shall visit the area and the roads will have been repaired. I have no idea how or when or where new houses shall be built or who will pay for them. There is still a lot of standing water, mud and it has been raining more Right now, I am concerned about help for those who have only the same clothes as the night of the floods as they lost all their belongings. I have been told RIGHT NOW clothing and shoes for children and women are needed. School supplies and knapsacks are lacking.

Meeting with the equivalent of the Director of the Office of the Governor in the providence of Errachadia, I have been advised a bank account will be set up with an association of people being in control-. to receive international funds. I have been told that there is to be strict control of disbursement of funds- a committee of the government, local administers, and civil protection shall be in control of it. Information will be available next week and I can provide it as necessary…

Already outsiders have come in- pretending to need help and abuse the system. Also, be aware of some locals who are associated with associations as not all the money they are receiving is dispersed as it should be!

http://www.africa-ata.org/great_causes.htm