The Role of Civil Society Organizations in Managing Morocco's Al-Houz Earthquake

Abstract

This study examines the role of civil society organizations in managing the Al-Houze earthquake in Morocco, posing the central question: How have these organizations contributed to disaster response and recovery efforts? To investigate this, the study analyses the involvement of 22 civil society organizations in the Souss-Massa region. The findings suggest that these organizations primarily operated through a network-based approach, driven by the growing influence of virtual communities. The study highlights that participation in solidarity initiatives to support earthquake victims was motivated by a strong sense of social responsibility and a genuine desire to aid. However, they faced two major challenges: the earthquake response activities did not align with the usual operational scope or geographic focus of the organizations, and the activists involved lacked the specialized training and expertise necessary to effectively manage such a large-scale crisis. The study underscores the capacity of civil society organizations to respond rapidly and effectively to disasters, thereby alleviating some of the pressure on the state, which focused its resources on search-and-rescue operations and efforts to restore normalcy.