For Rayan, Morocco has moved «its» mountains

For a week, the world became a village named Igharam, a small village lost in the Rif mountains where little Rayan  used to live. During this long week, the eyes of the world were riveted on the 32-meter well into which Rayan fell, on Tuesday, February 2.

And everybody, overcome with emotion and turmoil, counted, with Rayan’s parents and all Moroccans, every second that passed in the hope of seeing this little boy emerge unharmed, a little boy whose image and innocence are engraved in our hearts forever. If there are images that we will not soon forget, they are those of the unfailing and relentless efforts made by the authorities, whose control of the situation was exemplary, even exceptional. Until the last second, until the last centimeter of earth, the rescuers, true heroes of this epic adventure, maintained the hope of finding little Rayan alive, but destiny had other plans.

The little angel ended up succumbing to his injuries, trapped in a hole for more than 5 days before help could reach him. Until the last moment, Rayan’s parents displayed unparalleled dignity, especially when they received the condolences of King Mohammed VI, who called them as soon as the sad news was announced.

This tragedy has taught us new lessons. Those of an unknown and ignored Morocco. Outside of the large cities, there are little villages that have nothing to do with a little village, especially in the North. Most of the necessary infrastructure is missing. Despite this, the rescuers managed to brave and move a mountain to save little Rayan, and to bring an ambulance and even a medical helicopter to the foot of the excavations.
Morocco has once again shown that it is capable of mobilizing and providing the necessary means to help its people, whatever the cost.

The wave of reactions that followed Rayan’s case–from live broadcasts to tweets detailing the progress–transformed a local story into a global drama followed by people from around the world, regardless of their language or religion. But the media will have to learn from the way they covered this case. There have been many slips and breaches of ethics in a profession that has a responsibility to be dignified, resisting the lure of «click bait», even in the most difficult moments.

Reactions

For five days, a «race against time» was followed, live, around the world, and reactions were numerous. «Rayan’s courage will remain in our memories and will continue to inspire us, as well as the dedication of the Moroccan people and of the rescue workers too», wrote AC Milan’s Algerian international soccer player Ismael Bennacer, in a tweet accompanied by a drawing of a child rising into the sky hanging on a heart-shaped balloon bearing the colors of Morocco. «We had all kept hope that little Rayan would make it. This is all so tragic», Moroccan-American novelist Laila Lalami also reacted on Twitter, while French President Emmanuel Macron said on Facebook «Tonight, I want to say to the family of little Rayan and to the Moroccan people that we share their pain».

Ali ABJIOU