Rescuers, surrounded by collapsed buildings, transport an injured earthquake survivor in Tnirt village, Marrakesh, Morocco. (Credit: Piero Cruciatti/Anadolu Agency)
At least 2,901 people have died and 5,530 were injured following the devastating earthquake that struck Morocco’s Marrakesh–Safi on September 8 just after 11 p.m. local time, as many slept. Most of the dead were buried under rubble from collapsed buildings, according to the government.
Many of the worst-affected areas are remote and mountainous, making them more difficult to reach, so fatality numbers are likely to rise rapidly as the full impact of the disaster becomes clearer. The earthquake is the deadliest to strike the country since the 1960 Agadir earthquake and the most powerful since 1900.
Rescue operations continue with search teams from Britain, Spain, Qatar, and the UAE assisting the Moroccan military, but hopes of finding survivors are fading. International aid groups warn that Morocco faces a huge challenge in helping the estimated 300,000 affected people rebuild their destroyed communities.
The Muslim News presents reports from Muslim Hands and Al-Khair Foundation, among the UK’s leading Muslim charities, dispatching teams to the region.
Many families have lost everything
Sahirah Javaid, Press Officer, Muslim Hands
Muslim Hands has raised £250,000 since its appeal began to provide emergency aid to the earthquake survivors, which will include food parcels, water, blankets, and tents.
Nawal El Makni, an aid worker with Moroccan heritage, arrived with other staff from the UK and France early Sunday, September 10, in Marrakesh, visiting the worst-impacted areas near the Atlas Mountains, the epicentre of the earthquake, in the areas of Al-Hauz and Amezmiz.
El Makni said, “My family is based in Casablanca, but I relocated to Marrakech twenty years ago, so I have spent many summers there. While I have family and friends who have been severely affected by the recent earthquake, I am thankful that there have been no serious casualties among them.
“Coincidentally, just this past July, I enjoyed a one-week holiday with my children in the mountainous region of Marrakech, the very area that is now the epicentre of this horrendous earthquake. The mere thought of what the victims are enduring is truly terrifying.”
“Having visited Amezmiz, I spoke to a little boy who was roughly nine years of age, telling me the heartbreaking story of him holding his mother’s hand as rubble covered her and she sadly passed away. Many in Amezmiz and Al Hauz are now living in makeshift shelters, enduring difficult weather conditions with baking heat during the day and cold nights. Many of these families have lost everything, and with the generous donations, we can make a huge difference.”
Yasrab Shah, Muslim Hands Fundraising Director, said, “We are extremely humbled by the generous outpouring of donations since we started the appeal a few days ago. In the first two nights, over £130,000 was raised from TV appeals and our social networks. This is the worst earthquake that has ever devastated the country in its history.”
Al-Khair Foundation Press Team
In the wake of the devastating earthquake that struck Morocco on September 8, Al-Khair Foundation has initiated a comprehensive disaster relief effort to assist the affected communities.
Morocco’s deadliest earthquake in more than 60 years registered 6.8 on the Richter scale when it hit Morocco’s Atlas Mountains region. It caused significant loss of life and widespread destruction, leaving thousands of people in dire need of assistance.
The earthquake has led to numerous fatalities, with [at the time of writing] 2,900 confirmed deaths, and has affected the lives of countless individuals, many of whom were displaced from their homes. The immediate response required to alleviate these communities’ suffering is paramount.
Al-Khair Foundation has swiftly mobilised its teams to respond to this crisis. Volunteers and experts are currently on the ground in several affected areas, including in the High Atlas Mountain range, about 44.7 miles southwest of Marrakech, a city of about 840,000 people.
These resolute individuals are working tirelessly to assess the extent of the damage, identify the urgent needs of the affected population, and provide essential emergency assistance.
However, our efforts have not been without logistical challenges. The earthquake has disrupted infrastructure and access routes in several areas, making it challenging to reach some of the most affected regions. Nonetheless, our teams are persevering and collaborating with local authorities to overcome these challenges and deliver aid to those in need.
The primary goal of the Al-Khair Foundation’s appeal is to provide immediate relief for affected communities. We aim to ensure that all those impacted by this disaster have access to clean water, food, shelter, and medical care. Additionally, we are committed to helping families reunite and rebuild their lives in the aftermath of this tragedy.
Since our response efforts began, our teams have been distributing food, sheltering families, and offering medical assistance to hundreds of individuals. These achievements reflect our dedication to alleviating the suffering of the earthquake-affected population and helping them on their journey to recovery.
Al-Khair Foundation is fully committed to supporting the people of Morocco during this challenging time. Our teams on the ground, along with the generosity of our donors, are making a tangible difference in the lives of those affected by the earthquake. We will continue to work tirelessly to provide aid, support, and hope to the resilient people of Morocco as they rebuild their communities and move forward.
