Late on Friday, September 8, a 6.8-magnitude struck a mountainous region of central Morocco, about 45 miles southwest of the historic city of Marrakech. The quake was followed by a series of powerful aftershocks.
Almost 3,000 people have been killed, thousands have been injured and tens of thousands have lost their homes. Infrastructure—including power, water and, importantly, healthcare facilities—have been extensively damaged.
International Medical Corps immediately sent an Advance Emergency Medical Team to perform an assessment, and continues to work with local authorities and partners to coordinate response efforts in the areas affected by the quakes. We already have helped to distribute thousands of food and non-food items, including blankets and hygiene items, and are providing healthcare services through mobile medical units.
The devastating earthquake that hit 45 miles southwest of Marrakech on September 8 has upended the lives of everyone in the surrounding area, and presented challenges to providing humanitarian aid. For example, road blockages caused by the earthquake constrain the delivery of aid, as does the risk of landslides in challenging and mountainous terrain. Moroccan authorities are working quickly to remove blockages but last-mile efforts to reach remote villages remain difficult.
After the quake struck, International Medical Corps immediately deployed an Emergency Response Team (ERT) to coordinate response efforts in-country with local authorities and other humanitarian organizations. We are working with nonprofit organizations with an operational presence in Morocco to rapidly alleviate the suffering of earthquake survivors and support the recovery and reconstruction of affected areas.
Our efforts include providing hot meals and emergency supplies, including ready-to-eat foods such as canned fish, dates, milk and cheese; hygiene supplies such as toothpaste, soap and sponges; and blankets and mattresses.
We also are providing mobile health and mental health services in remote and hard-to-reach areas, especially among those who have been displaced by this disaster, through mobile medical units. Finally, we are focusing on providing clean water and modern hygiene services to help prevent the spread of disease among displaced families who may be crowded together in temporary shelters.
Please help earthquake affected communities in Morocco.
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Your Support can Save Lives!
By supporting this project or creating a giving opportunity of your own, you can make a lifesaving difference for families affected by crises in Morocco and worldwide.
With the support of our global community, in 2023, we:
• reached nearly 16.5 million people affected by armed conflict, natural disasters and disease outbreaks;
• delivered 9,331,598 primary healthcare consultations;
• trained 107,202 people on health, mental health, protection and nutrition-related topics; and
• assisted 2,375,098 people with vital nutrition support.
Join International Medical Corps in our mission to build a healthier and more hopeful world for all in 2024.
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*Please Note for recurring donations: Once we have determined that the community can continue to respond to the after-effects of this emergency without us, we will scale back our response efforts. At that time, we will redirect your future donations where they are needed most, to help us respond to future outbreaks of conflict, disease or disaster.
