In response to the earthquake that hit Morocco on Friday 8 September 2023, affecting the provinces and cities of Al Haouz, Marrakesh, Taroudant, Chichaoua, and Ouarzazate, ActionAid UK has launched an urgent emergency appeal following Friday’s devastating earthquake in Morocco.
In response to the earthquake that hit Morocco on Friday 8 September 2023, affecting the provinces and cities of Al Haouz, Marrakesh, Taroudant, Chichaoua, and Ouarzazate, ActionAid UK has launched an urgent emergency appeal following Friday’s devastating earthquake in Morocco.
So far, the 6.8 magnitude earthquake has killed over 2,000 people and affected hundreds of thousands, destroyed public and private infrastructure, and has left many in the affected regions in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. In the remote villages near the Atlas Mountains survivors who have lost their homes are in urgent need of shelter, food and clothing.
Commenting on the situation, Kirsten Sutherland, Humanitarian Program Coordinator at ActionAid Spain, which has worked in Morocco for over 20, said:
“In just minutes, the lives of hundreds of thousands of people have been turned upside down. Many families have lost everything – their loved ones, their homes and their belongings. Damage to infrastructure is hampering access to information and to affected communities, especially in remote areas. Our objective is to support those communities that have been most badly affected by the earthquake.”
She added that “ActionAid is working closely with our local partners to assess the situation, ascertain the emergency support and funding required and launch a response as soon as access is possible.”
ActionAid has been present in Morrocco for more than 20 years, working in collaboration with local partner organisations. In recent years, their work has focused on providing safe spaces for women – a service that could be vital in the coming days and weeks.
Sara Almer, the Humanitarian Director at ActionAid International said: “The aftermath of an earthquake poses particular risks for women and girls, who are living outside and need safe spaces to shelter. Whether during the earthquakes in Nepal in 2015 or in Turkey and Syria earlier this year, disasters like this are inherently gendered. The urgent need will be to provide shelter, food, water, medical aid, and supplies for the affected communities as well as mental health support.”
As the death toll continues to rise, ActionAid is working alongside local partners to coordinate a response in some of the worst-affected areas. Please donate or link to our appeal in news coverage here: https://www.actionaid.org.uk/supportchange/emergency/morocco-earthquake-appeal
ENDS
The following spokespeople are available on request:
Sara Almer is the Humanitarian Director at ActionAid International.
Mike Noyes is the Humanitarian Lead at ActionAid UK
Kirsten Sutherland is the Humanitarian Program Coordinator at ActionAid Spain.
Ousama Chakkor is the ActionAid coordinator for Morocco.
To contact the ActionAid UK Press Office email uk.media@actionaid.org or call 07753 973 486.
About ActionAid
ActionAid is an international charity that works with women and girls living in poverty. Our dedicated local staff are changing the world with women and girls. We are ending violence and fighting poverty so that all women, everywhere, can create the future they want