Attachments
Disaster Overview
On 8 September, at 11:11 pm local time, a 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit central Morocco. Its epicenter was in the High Atlas Mountains, southwest of Marrakesh city. The earthquake’s depth was 18.5 km, according to the US Geological Survey. The municipalities affected are al-Haouz, Marrakesh, Ouarzazate, Azilal, Chichaoua and Taroudant. This is considered the most powerful earthquake in a century to strike Morocco. Hundreds of aftershocks were recorded, the strongest reached up to 5.9 magnitude.
The number of casualties continues to rise following the devastating quake that struck Al Haouz Province on 8 September. National authorities have reported a grim tally, with 2,946 lives tragically lost and a staggering 5,674 individuals left injured in the wake of this natural disaster. The Government of Morocco has swiftly initiated emergency response efforts to provide relief and support to the affected communities. Additionally, the United Nations maintains active and closely coordinated communication with the Moroccan national authorities, working together to mitigate the impact of this catastrophe and provide essential aid to those in need.
Government officials are taking the lead in responding to the crisis and providing crucial aid and assistance to those affected by this tragic event. The primary reported needs are food, water, psychosocial support, and shelter. Due to the extensive damage caused by the earthquake, many people have been displaced from their homes and are seeking refuge in public facilities, often resorting to sleeping outdoors.
The Ministry of Education has reported that 530 schools and 55 boarding schools have suffered damage, with Chichaoua and Taroudant provinces being the hardest hit. Efforts are underway to clear roadblocks on local and national highway systems, slowly allowing for roads to reopen and enable access to remote mountain villages.
IBC in the Field
International Blue Crescent Relief and Development Foundation (IBC) has started its activity by partnering with local organizations based in the region. IBC has been on the ground since Tuesday 12th September. IBC released a IBC Flash Appeal Responding to Morocco Earthquake 4 days ago and will continue with ongoing assessments this week in the region. Hundreds of people who lost their lives are still missing. Many people are still on the streets and require basic needs, especially winter items and some form of shelter to guard from the cold air, especially in the rural areas of the region, which were completely destroyed.
IBC, with its extensive experience in implementing humanitarian and development programs, particularly in the realm of emergency response, has effectively coordinated its efforts with donors, partners, authorities, and local organizations in the region. This collaborative approach enables IBC to efficiently address the urgent needs of the people in Ijoukak, Tinzart and Taroudant. The organization has been actively providing crucial emergency assistance, such as hot soup, hot meals, emergency supplies, and essential hygiene items. In recent days, IBC, with the generous support of partners like IDRF Canada, Action Medeor and Islamic Help UK has been diligently working to distribute food kits, cooking ovens, tents, and blankets to hundreds of survivors affected by the earthquake.
On 13 September, the first place where IBC started its emergency response was a small village called Tajgalt in ijoukak. With IDRF and Islamic Help UK’s support IBC was able to reach 200 beneficiaries. On 14 September, after 3 hours of driving and 2 hours of walking in the mountains, IBC and its donor IDRF was the first to reach a small village called Ijoukak which was severally affected by the earthquake. IBC with IDRF was able to provide support to 150 individuals affected by the earthquake in Ijoukak by distributing food packages including: sugar, rice, oil, tea, salt, flour, cookies for kids etc.