Every gesture counts and every minute is crucial in helping those affected by the earthquake in Morocco. By making a donation to Acted and its partners, you are helping us to act quickly in the face of the tragedy that has affected thousands of families in the country.
On 8 September 2023 at 10.11pm, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake, the most powerful in the kingdom’s history, struck Morocco 77 kilometres south-west of Marrakech. According to a press release from the Moroccan Ministry of the Interior, more than 2,900 people lost their lives. At least 5,000 people were injured. Hundreds of buildings have collapsed and villages are in ruins.
Present in the Maghreb since 2011, Acted mobilised on 9 September to prepare an emergency response targeting the distribution of drinking water and essential goods through the mobilisation of its network of local NGO partners in Morocco. The aim of this coordinated action is to provide direct, independent aid in the villages worst affected by the earthquake.
The regions of Souss-Massa, Marrakech Safi and the city of Marrakech were the hardest hit by the earthquake. In the worst-hit areas, the majority of the population is now living outdoors, in shelters provided by the Moroccan government. The immediate needs of those affected range from food and water to hygiene kits. Another crucial need is for heating and blankets: night-time temperatures are cold in the Atlas villages, which are among the worst affected. Finally, according to UNICEF, almost 100,000 children have been affected by the suspension of schooling following the collapse of educational infrastructure in the regions mentioned.
Acted’s response
Acted has expertise in emergency situations (the earthquake in Haiti in 2014, the conflict in Syria in 2019, the explosion in Beirut in 2020, the war in Ukraine in 2022, the earthquake in Turkey in 2023, etc.) and mobilised its teams as soon as 9 September, heading for the most remote areas. In this way, Acted has helped to identify the crucial needs of the populations in these areas.
Our teams are working with local players, including the Crisis Unit deployed by the Moroccan Ministry, to respond to the needs identified in the most effective and relevant way possible. For example, a partnership with the Moroccan Food Bank will make it possible to provide hygiene kits, generators and heating installations for the populations most affected by the tragedy. Other emergency activities will involve providing blankets, mattresses and food baskets for people currently living in makeshift shelters.
Acted’s responses to the crises are also aimed at promoting medium- and long-term recovery: Acted plans to meet the need for sustainable infrastructure linked to water, hygiene and sanitation, to participate in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of housing in the affected towns and villages, and to provide support to local entrepreneurs to help them relaunch their businesses.