Powerful earthquake kills hundreds in Morocco’s High Atlas region
3,000+ killed | 300,000+ affected
A powerful quake struck at 11pm on September 8, injuring thousands and killing over 3,000 people – a grim death toll that is likely to rise in the days ahead.
Many of the dead are in remote villages in the High Atlas mountains, the epicentre of the earthquake. Residents are using whatever equipment they can find as they struggle to reach their neighbours under the rubble.
Aftershocks have left families too frightened to seek shelter, with exhausted survivors forced to sleep in the streets.
Please support our Global Emergencies fund today, giving anything you can to help save lives.
*Your donation to the Global Emergencies fund can help Islamic Relief respond immediately when disaster strikes. Please note that your donation is not specific to our Morocco Earthquake Appeal but rather to a general fund that supports emergency relief efforts across the world.
Your Donations in Action in Morocco
Working alongside our local partners, Al Mobadara and Altawassol, Islamic Relief has supported 8,255 rights-holders in Morocco through:
- 4510 blankets
- 3710 mattresses
- 200 pillows
- 3510 hygiene kits
- 330 food packs
- 688 winter-ready kits
After further discussions with the local government, partner organizations, and community members, our team has decided to build permanent shelters. These shelters aim to provide rights-holders with durable and permanent housing – a place to call home after months of displacement for entire families.
Islamic Relief’s Response
Islamic Relief teams are on the ground in Morocco, and we are rapidly working through local partners to provide relief to those affected by the earthquake.
We are focused on providing urgent food supplies, emergency shelter and basic essentials at the moment.
$65 can provide life-saving essentials
$150 can provide a family with an emergency food pack
$250 can provide urgent shelter to those who have lost their home
Islamic Relief’s thoughts and prayers are with the people of Morocco, as they face the aftermath of one of the strongest earthquakes in years.
*Your donation to the
Global Emergencies
fund can help Islamic Relief respond immediately when disaster strikes. Please note that your donation is not specific to our Morocco Earthquake Appeal but rather to a general fund that supports emergency relief efforts across the world.
Historic Marrakech badly damaged
The earthquake, which was felt as far away as Algeria and Portugal, also shook historic Marrakech, the nearest major city to the epicentre. Homes and other buildings in the UNESCO World Heritage Site have collapsed.
The epicentre was in the High Atlas Mountains, 71km (44 miles) south-west of Marrakesh, at a depth of 18.5km. The earthquake killed people in the provinces and municipalities of al-Haouz, Marrakesh, Ouarzazate, Azilal, Chichaoua and Taroudant.
Blocked roads are preventing ambulances from reaching the wounded, and while officials are scrambling to clear debris, rescue and relief efforts are difficult amid the mountainous terrain, risk of landslides, and large distances.