Embedded Files
Quick facts
Where: Near the town of Oukaïmedene in the High Atlas Mountains of western Morocco, but felt as far away as Portugal and Algeria
When: September 8, 2023 at 11:11 pm local time
Fast Figures: 6.8 magnitude, with 4.9 magnitude aftershock
More than 2,900 deaths
At least 5,500 people injured
Around 2.8 million people affected
2,930 villages in the High Atlas Mountains damaged
Estimated 19,100 collapsed houses
Deadliest earthquake in Morocco since 1960
Why is this earthquake so devastating?
Nestled in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco lies the Al Haouz province, a region destroyed in a matter of minutes by the earthquake. The disaster's impacts are only amplified by the region's geographical isolation. In these mountainous villages, public services are scarce and few. Furthermore, the mountain roads are considered of poor quality even under normal circumstances, winding precariously through the perilous terrain.
When the devastating earthquake struck, these remote areas bore the brunt of its wrath. The rocky landscape was transformed into a nightmare, with boulders, debris, and landslides rendering these already challenging roads practically impossible to pass through. What compounds the tragedy is that nearly all of the houses and buildings here were constructed with unreinforced brick and masonry, making easy targets for the disaster.
As if the physical effects weren't enough, the earthquake's aftermath has turned a political scene. At the beginning, Morocco's government only accepted disaster relief from certain countries, including Spain, Britain, and the UAE, while turning down others, including the United States' and Canada's--citing concerns about overcrowding in the mountainous roads and areas. While they assured the world that all aid is welcome, a political undertone still rings.
The earthquake in Morocco may seem distant and far away, but these are fellow human beings who have lost their homes and their loved ones.
Meet Malak, a 12-year-old who has been displaced from her home. She is currently residing in a makeshift plastic tent, as do many other children in the region. These temporary housing structures offer scant protection at best to the families sheltering within. Malak, frustrated that the earthquake has disrupted her education, voices the collective sentiment: "We want food, money, and, above all, we want a house." These families are already struggling to make ends meet, and the earthquake has compounded their misery. The dire lack of proper shelter and the harsh weather on the horizon make their plight all the more urgent.
Meet Khadija Ait Si Ali, who found her life shattered to pieces just when she was beginning to find a semblance of normalcy. Only seven months ago, she lost her husband in a tragic road accident. On the path to recovery, her family had been a cornerstone of support as she raised her now three-month-old baby alone. Then, the earthquake struck, further reducing the opportunities she has left.
For Khadija and countless others in her predicament, the focus is on surviving each day and rebuilding their lives amid the devastation, uncertainty, and haunting memories of the earthquake's traumatic impact.
How you can help
The Moroccan government promised to offer 2,500 dirhams ($244) monthly over a year in aid to quake-stricken households, in addition to larger amounts as compensation for totally and partially destroyed homes. They also made plans to spend 120 billion dirhams on a post-earthquake reconstruction plan that includes the upgrade of infrastructure over the next five years.
As with most disaster response, Morocco's government simply cannot provide all-encompassing aid on its own. Consequently, it becomes imperative for us to take action and offer assistance without delay:
Support our bake sale
Change of Tomorrow held a bake sale on Friday, 9/29/2023. All of the proceeds were donated to the World Central Kitchen, a non-profit organization providing hot meals to people in need.
Advocate and inform
Survivors of the Morocco earthquake need social support just as much as they need physical help. Equipping ourselves with accurate information empowers us to make a meaningful difference in their lives and foster support for the communities that need it.
Donate directly
There are numerous existing organizations providing direct relief to Moroccans. A few include the International Medical Corps supplying emergency medical care, CARE prioritizing women, youth, and disadvantaged groups, and the High Atlas Foundation,
Article last updated: 9/28/2023
Sources: https://www.britannica.com/event/Morocco-earthquake-of-2023 https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2023-09-22/morocco-earthquake-affected-2-8-million-people-says-minister https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-66870985https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/09/09/world/africa/morocco-earthquake-damage.html https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2023/09/16/europe/morocco-earthquake-recovery-rebuilding-intl-cmd/index.html https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/2023/9/9/photos-hundreds-dead-after-powerful-earthquake-rocks-moroccohttps://www.cnn.com/2023/09/09/africa/gallery/morocco-earthquake/index.html https://www.npr.org/2023/09/08/1198598035/powerful-earthquake-strikes-morocco-killing-hundredshttps://www.kob.com/news/us-and-world-news/ap-photos-moroccan-earthquake-shattered-thousands-of-lives/
Page updated
Report abuse