Morocco Earthquake Response

SITUATION REPORT: September 12, 2023

On the night of September 8, 2023, at 23:11 local time, a powerful earthquake struck Morocco’s Marrakesh-Safi region, registering a magnitude between 6.8 and 6.9 on the Richter scale. The epicenter of this seismic event was located approximately 73.4 kilometers (45.6 miles) southwest of Marrakesh, near the town of Ighil and the Oukaïmeden ski resort, nestled in the Atlas Mountains. As of September 11, 2023, there have been more than 2,800 reported fatalities, predominantly occurring outside the city of Marrakesh. Rescue efforts are ongoing, with responders tirelessly searching through the debris, and the death toll continues to rise. This earthquake now stands as Morocco’s most powerful instrumentally recorded earthquake and its deadliest since 1960. Globally, it ranks as the second-deadliest earthquake this year, following the 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquake. 

The destruction has been widespread, claiming historic landmarks in the city. Furthermore, the impact of the earthquake reverberated beyond Morocco, with tremors felt in neighboring countries such as Spain, Portugal, and Algeria. The World Health Organization estimates that roughly 300,000 people in Marrakesh and the surrounding areas have been affected, prompting international humanitarian aid efforts. In response, Morocco has declared a three-day period of national mourning. 

In the aftermath, relief operations persist, despite formidable challenges in accessing the most severely affected regions, particularly in the Atlas Mountains. In the town of Amizmiz, situated at the foothills of the High Atlas Mountains in the Al Haouz province, there is a noticeable increase in the presence of ambulances and emergency personnel. Moreover, more survivors are seeking refuge in disaster relief tents instead of makeshift shelters. However, landslides triggered by the earthquake continue to obstruct certain roads in the Atlas Mountains, impeding the progress of government rescue teams. Power and phone outages persist in many areas, further compounding the challenges faced by survivors. The extensive damage to roads and infrastructure has rendered many areas uninhabitable. 

IMMEDIATE NEEDS

With many homes and buildings collapsed, survivors need basic necessities such as shelf-stable food, clean water, basic medicine, temporary shelters or tents, mattresses or cots, emergency school services, and specific needs for infants, children, and women, including sanitary and hygiene products, and mental health support.

Other long-term recovery and rehabilitation needs include rebuilding materials and disaster preparedness programs for affected communities.

CURRENT PROGRAMS & PARTNERS

Give2Asia, under the Myriad Alliance, is in partnership with the KBFUS to facilitate donations to partners currently working on the ground to search for survivors and provide immediate relief to the affected communities. Our partners include: 

International Blue Crescent Relief and Development Foundation (IBC) 

The International Blue Crescent Relief and Development Foundation (IBC) was established in 1999 and is headquartered in Turkey. They have implemented various emergency projects, including food delivery, shelter projects, health projects, as well as water and sanitation projects in all parts following the earthquake in Izmir in 2020. IBC was actively responding and providing food and non-food items for thousands of families. During the Turkey earthquake relief response, IBC has been one of Give2Asia’s strong partners, supporting the immediate response to the recovery and rehabilitation phase.  

For the current relief effort in the Marrakesh region, Morocco, IBC’s primary focus will be on distributing essential supplies such as food, clean drinking water, medical and hygiene kits, as well as tents and blankets. IBC is particularly attentive to the needs of remote villages in the Al Haouz and Chichaoua districts of Marrakech. Effective coordination has been established with the Marrakesh Municipality and local partners in the field. The Turkish Foreign Ministry has expressed its readiness to provide comprehensive support to aid in the recovery process following the earthquake in Morocco. Turkey’s AFAD disaster management authority has mobilized 265 aid workers, including teams from AFAD, the Turkish Red Crescent, and other Turkish NGOs like IBC, for rescue and relief efforts. Turkey is also prepared to deliver 1,000 tents to the affected areas.  

As an initial step, IBC, in collaboration with Moroccan authorities, plans to distribute 1,000 food parcels, 1,000 hygiene packages, 500 baby kits, 200 tents, 500 blankets, 500 medical kits, and 1,000 flashlights in Chichaoua. Following final assessments and coordination with Marrakesh disaster authorities, the emergency response program will be adjusted accordingly. The first distributions will be carried out in coordination with Marrakech authorities, with an estimated 15,000 people expected to benefit from the initial emergency response.  

Budget needs: approximately USD 350,000 

Moroccan Red Crescent Society 

Immediately following the earthquake in Morocco, the Moroccan Red Crescent Society (MRCS) swiftly mobilized its teams, engaging in close coordination with both the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and local authorities. Their efforts include conducting assessments of the situation, actively participating in search and rescue operations, and extending assistance to those affected. MRCS has been delivering crucial services, encompassing first aid, psychosocial support, and facilitating the transportation of the injured to medical facilities.  

Given that some of the hardest-hit regions are situated in remote and mountainous areas, making access challenging, the IFRC has been diligently collaborating with the Moroccan Red Crescent Society to comprehensively evaluate the circumstances. To bolster the MRCS’s on-the-ground response, the IFRC has allocated 1 million Swiss francs from the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF). The IFRC’s emergency response teams stand prepared to deploy within a 24 to 48-hour timeframe, poised to address evolving needs. Moreover, Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies from Africa, the Middle East, North Africa (MENA), and Europe have extended their support and offered assistance in this critical situation. 

HOW TO GIVE

All donations received by Give2Asia will help communities in the earthquake-affected region in Morocco. Give2Asia will publish more details on the needs emerging in the coming days and weeks—and report on every dollar granted for relief and recovery.  

Click the “Donate” button above to make a credit card donation. For large gifts or corporate giving opportunities, please reach out to our international giving team.