January 18, 2024
News
On September 8th, 2023, Morocco experienced a catastrophic earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale that left the population severely in need of help. At least 3,000 people lost their lives, and thousands more were injured. Up to 300,000 people were affected by the tremors, and many villages were almost completely destroyed. Caritas is still supporting the people in Morocco. How does the help look like?
Caritas provided food, water, clothes, medicine and safe shelter
The earthquake's epicentre was in the High Atlas mountains, near the historic Marrakech. People in the mountainous areas live mostly in traditional houses, which they usually build themselves using locally sourced materials. These houses are, therefore, more vulnerable to seismic activities, and the September tremors immediately destroyed or severely damaged these buildings. Access to the mountains was also difficult due to the earthquake. With over 40 per cent of the Moroccan population living in remote rural areas, providing humanitarian aid in the mountains was essential.
Our partner organisation Caritas Morocco immediately began helping the affected population, contributing to ensuring all the basic needs are met. "We sent a first aid convoy to the mountain areas with food, a generator, clothes and tents," described Caritas Rabat's director, Óscar Arturo. Caritas Czech Republic also deployed its own emergency response team to Morocco right after the disaster.
During a humanitarian crisis, it is also very crucial to provide adequate hygiene and sanitation assistance to prevent the spread of communicable diseases. Therefore, Caritas provided basic hygiene and sanitation assistance to the affected people. Our partner organisation distributed warm winter clothing, drinking water, food, first aid packages and medicine.
People who lost their homes during the earthquake had nowhere to go. That is why Caritas provided safe shelter in heated tents to the affected population. Caritas also supplied electric generators so that people could charge their phones and consequently be able to call their loved ones.
We continue to help people affected by the earthquake in Morocco
Caritas Czech Republic continues to help people in Morocco. "Help after the earthquake in Morocco is still very much needed. The extent of the damage is catastrophic and most of the families in the villages in the Azizmiz region that we visited in January are still living in tents or makeshift mobile homes made of tin or wood. Caritas has distributed much needed mobile heating to these people, as temperatures in Moroccan villages are currently around 5 degrees Celsius," explains Lukáš Kosek, Country Programme Coordinator for the Middle East at Caritas Czech Republic.
"A significant majority of the houses that are left standing have had their structures compromised to the point that they are uninhabitable and pose a risk to anyone inside. So most people have pitched a tent next to their house to sleep in, yet they use the houses because they often have no choice. It is also a risk because of aftershocks, of which there have been several since the devastating earthquake, most recently in late January. Caritas Czech Republic will continue to support local people in the badly damaged mountain areas in dealing with the aftermath of the earthquake," said Kosek.
We are helping people affected by the earthquake in Morocco thanks to the financial support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic and thanks to the people who donated to the fundraising appeal Caritas for Morocco.
