Morocco: One Year Later

by Zana Sahyouni

On September 8, 2023, a 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck near Marrakech, killing over 3,000 and injuring more than 5,700. IRUSA teams immediately mobilized to provide emergency aid to survivors, including food, emergency shelter, 3,422 blankets, 2,622 mattresses, 2,422 hygiene kits, and 200 pillows.

When IRUSA’s Senior Community Outreach Manager Belkacem Nahi went to Morocco the first time, he stated that, “[The] village was completely destroyed. Almost no survivors: the few [survivors] are five or six [young children]. You can smell the human bodies under the rubble. We are distributing blankets, and then some baskets of food. Just at least to cover a few days. This camp was established here because our brothers and sisters lost everything. They lost their houses, their animals, everything. They don’t have anything left. They are waiting for Allah (SWT) to take care of them through your donations and through your support.”

Sheikh Yasir Birjas, who went to Morocco as an ambassador for IRUSA, stated that, “The earthquake had a great impact. Almost the entire village over here, you’re going to see some of the videos and pictures almost completely gone, really. Even the standing houses, they won’t be able to go back in again because they are unsafe. As we were standing here, we saw one house completely collapse before our eyes, subhan’Allah. And you see all these [tents] around us right now, these are all temporary accommodations for all the families and kids. The school is right here, and it is completely destroyed. They are unable to go back to their classrooms anymore. They are waiting, inshaAllah, for your help and support to bring them back into their schools and into their homes.”

One year later, Islamic Relief USA is still there, implementing emergency and long-term development in the region. We currently have five projects undergo in Morocco, and two that have been fulfilled: Winter Aid to Earthquake-affected communities in Morocco, Climate Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Connecting Rural Economics in Morocco, Modular Housing Project for Families Affected by the Earthquake, Morocco Earthquake Emergency Response, Support to Earthquake-affected Communities in Morocco, Eid Al-Adha Assistance Program, and Ramadan Food Assistance.

Fatima is one of the people who was supported by your donations to IRUSA. She was living in the south-western province of Al-Haouz, where the epicenter of the earthquake hit.

“When I regained consciousness, I removed some of the rubble I was trapped under. I was screaming in pain until I freed my legs and my clothes that were caught under the debris. People outside the house were screaming and calling for me. I opened the door and went out, asking them to save my daughter — only her fingers were visible under the rubble and dust. Thankfully, they managed to rescue her. We escaped barefoot and naked until one of my sons brought us something to cover ourselves with in the morning.”

Fatima’s house was completely destroyed by the earthquake, and she and her daughter became two of the 500,000 people displaced by the disaster.

To continue supporting the people of Morocco, and to help more people like Fatima, donate now.

You can also watch below to see our work in Morocco: