What is the exact extent of the damage in Morocco after the earthquake? No one can estimate precisely, because ambiguity prevails. The death toll is constantly increasing, the hopes for survivors are zero.

In addition to human damage, damage is also recorded to buildings of historical value. For example, several of Morocco’s 9 World Heritage Sites have been damaged.

According to UNESCO, these include parts of the nearly 1000 year old medina in Marrakesh (UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985). In the old Jewish quarter, in this very historic and popular corner of the city, many buildings were destroyed or seriously damaged.

The most important landmark of the city, the 12th century Koutoubia Mosquecalled “the top of Marrakesh”, has also been severely damaged.

The minaret of the Harbus mosque has collapsed and the Jewish quarter “Mela” is in ruins.

The city’s famous historic red stone wall also has many cracks and holes.

According to Eric Falt, regional director of UNESCO’s Maghreb Office, the damaged buildings include the mosque of Tinmal in the Atlas Mountainsone of the most important historical buildings of the country.

“This is a symbolic place in the history of Morocco,” Falt said. “Its destruction is an incalculable loss to Morocco’s national heritage.”

The Tinmal Mosque was nominated for the title of another world heritage site in Morocco.

UNESCO representatives have been in the country for days to get an image of the damaged cultural monuments, which are often of great importance not only to tourists and historians, but also to the affected locals, as explained by Susan Harder, president of the international protection organization cultural goods Blue Shield, in an interview with Deutsche Welle.

In Morocco it is mainly the old cities that have won the title of World Heritage Site, such as the old city of Marrakesh. If something like that disappears, people lose part of their cultural identity. “Such places are not only important for tourism. Above all, they are living spaces,” says Harder. “There the awareness of cultural heritage is integral, because these structures have been created for centuries through everyday coexistence, everyday life, living, shopping, working”.

If such sophisticated organic structures are destroyed by natural disasters or wars, people not only lose an important mooring, but also part of their cultural memory. This is confirmed by a resident of Marrakesh who described the situation to a journalist of “The National” newspaper as follows: “It is a shock. Our identity is defined by these locations.”