September 16, 2024
News
Last September a devastating earthquake struck Morocco, killing 3 000 people and affecting up to 300 000 others. Among them was also Fatima, who lost her house due to the earthquake. Only one room was left, unsafe for her life. She now lives in a tent. Caritas Czech Republic is still providing much-needed humanitarian aid to people like Fatima in Morocco.
Alone in the house, afraid for her family
When an earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale struck Morocco, Fatima was in shock and alone in her locked house. All services, including telephone and internet, were cut off and Fatima could not get in touch with her mother. "I was very worried about my mother who was in her house at the time. I did not know what had happened or if she was okay," Fatima recalls. She was also worried about her two daughters, who were with their husbands when the earthquake struck.
The terrifying earthquake destroyed Fatima's house. Only one room of her house remains, but it is not safe for everyday life. The first nights after the earthquake were not easy for Fatima. One night she had to stay on the street, the next she spent in a tent next to her house. The tent provides her with temporary shelter until now.
"I still live in fear of when the earthquake will strike again. When a big truck passes through our village, I am terrified that it is another earthquake," Fatima says.
Life after the earthquake
Fatima still hopes for a better future. Although conditions in the area of Morocco affected by the earthquake are not ideal for life, Fatima tries to stay calm. Many neighbours repair the destroyed buildings themselves and Caritas is still involved in providing much-needed humanitarian aid on the ground.
"We are very grateful to Caritas Czech Republic for their help. Besides clothes and blankets, they also provided us with insulation material for our shelters and tents," Fatima adds.
Caritas Czech Republic keep helping people affected by the earthquake in Morocco
Caritas started providing aid immediately after the earthquake in Morocco last September. Right on the ground, our partner organisation Caritas Rabat intervened by sending a first aid convoy with food, a generator, clothing and tents to the mountainous areas.
We continue to help people affected by the earthquake in Morocco. "There is still a great need for help after the earthquake. The extent of the damage is catastrophic and most families in the villages where we provide help in the Azizmiz area are still living in tents or makeshift mobile cells made of tin or wood that they have made themselves," explains Lukáš Kosek, Middle East Programme Coordinator at Caritas Czech Republic.
"In the near future, we will also arrange for the repair of the water tank in Amzi village. People from the local community came up with the idea for the repair and we decided to support them," continues Lukáš Kosek.
We are providing safe temporary shelters, clothing, blankets and basic hygiene items to people affected by the earthquake in Morocco. We are able to do this mainly thanks to the financial support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic and thanks to you, our generous donors.
