Urgent Earthquake Response in Morocco

Thank you for supporting this project! I’m writing to share some updates on ActionAid’s work in Morocco.

One year ago, a 6.8 magnitude earthquake and a 4.9 magnitude aftershock struck Morocco, with an epicenter in the High Atlas Mountains, 71 kilometers from Marrakesh. This earthquake was the deadliest in Morocco since 2004, killing more than 3,000 people, injuring 56,741 and destroying 59,674 houses.

Following a needs assessment, ActionAid determined that safe and winterized temporary shelters were needed, as well as long term food and livelihood security, psychosocial support for affected communities, and educational/recreational activities for children unable to go back to school.

Our emergency response has had a primary focus on addressing immediate needs, responding to gaps in access to sanitation, basic necessities, women’s hygiene products, as well as prioritizing the needs of women and girls and supporting women-led responses.

Through this lens, and over the past year, ActionAid has been working alongside three local partner organizations to support vulnerable populations in 14 locations across Morocco. Thanks to your support, our humanitarian response activities have included:

• Food kit distribution

• Water, sanitation and hygiene services (WASH), including the completion and installation of WASH facilities

• Protection services, including leading capacity building workshops with community leaders

• The provision of safe spaces for children

• The provision of essential nonfood items (NFIs) including dignity kits and recreation kits for children

• Shelter support and tent distribution.

These are just some of the ways your support has helped have a powerful and lasting impact, in the face of unimaginable disaster. Now more than ever, your commitment to human rights makes a difference. Thank you again for your solidarity.

Thank you for taking the time to read this eight-month progress update on ActionAid's response to the September 2023 earthquake in Morocco and how we are continuing to support community resilience in the country. 

ActionAid continues to provide recovery support with its local partner, Tamghart Noudrar (The Mountain Woman), in Feburary and March by distributing hygiene kits, food, and providing safe spaces for women in Imilil and Tifert. Tamghart Noudrar is a woman-led organization based in Imilil, a ninety minute drive from Marrakesh. 

In the aftermath of the earthquake, Samira E., the Director of Tamghart Noudrar, is unable to return home due to the danger of collapse. She now regularly journeys to visit women in small affected communities, including Tifert, that are only accessible by dirt roads to distribute humanitarian aid. "We're doing something for the community, so despite the problems, we always resist and every year we prove that we can achieve quite a lot”, Samira spoke.

Young women, such as Kwtar, play an active role in distributing humanitarian aid following their participation in workshops facilitated by Tamghart Noudrar. She is the only woman in Taghzout, a rural commune on the coast of Morocco, who is participating in the leadership workshops. ActionAid is supporting 10 families in Taghzout living in tents with food and hygiene kits. 

Thank you for your continued support during this critical time as we continue to work with community partners to address urgent humanitarian needs in Morocco.