Morocco Al-Haouz Earthquake: One Year On
One year since the earthquake stuck Türkiye/Syria – the worst in a century. Here’s how Islamic Relief continues to support those affected.
Islamic Relief is continuing to help those affected immediately and in the long-term.
Help us provide aid and sustainable interventions that improve and rebuild lives going forward.
Our teams were on the ground delivering aid in Morocco from the very first day of the disaster, on 8 September, 2023.
Within hours of the Al Haouz Earthquake, Islamic Relief launched a $19.6 million AUD appeal to assist survivors.
Working with local partners, we reached thousands of survivors with vital humanitarian aid. These included essential survival items such as food, water, warm materials and hygiene kits.
Despite the destruction of infrastructure and roads, our teams were able to reach even difficult to access communities in mountainous regions with aid.
To date, we have completed 10 humanitarian projects, reaching nearly 65,000 people across more than 120 villages with vital, life-saving aid.
Islamic Relief continues to help those affected in Morocco recover from the disaster.
Along with ensuring immediate needs are met, our teams are also providing longer-term interventions.
Currently, these include providing essential medical services and health education in affected communities, through the launch of 27 health caravans and the installation of latrines and showers, particularly in remote areas.
So far, we have conducted 11 health caravans, helping over 3,400 people.
Morocco also requires an ongoing presence. This includes other vulnerable areas across the country, not just earthquake-stricken regions.
Read more about our vital, ongoing work supporting those in desperate need of aid in Morocco.
The Al Haouz earthquake was the most powerful to hit Morocco in over 60 years. It affected over 2.8 million people. Close to 3,000 people lost their lives, while thousands more were injured.
From the first day of the disaster, Islamic Relief became a lifeline to affected communities. Here’s how our teams helped support Morocco during and after the crisis, in our “One-Year On” report.
A powerful earthquake with magnitude of 6.8 struck the High Atlas region in Morocco at 11.11pm on the 8th September 2023.
Many of the dead were from the remote villages in the High Atlas mountains, the epicentre of the earthquake. Amid the disaster, residents used whatever equipment they found to reach loved ones — family members and neighbours — under the rubble.
Blocked roads prevented ambulances from reaching the wounded. Officials scrambled to clear debris. Rescue and relief efforts became difficult amid the mountainous terrain, risk of landslides, and large distances.
The earthquake was felt as far away as Algeria and Portugal. It also shook historic Marrakech, the nearest major city to the epicentre. Homes and other buildings in the UNESCO World Heritage Site collapsed.
Aftershocks left families too frightened to seek shelter, with exhausted survivors forced to sleep in the streets. Combined with the initial earthquake, the crisis destroyed close to 19,000 homes, with another 60,000 sustaining heavy damage.
A year on from the earthquake, the people of Morocco are still in recovery. Help our teams provide ongoing support to those most in need.
One year since the earthquake stuck Türkiye/Syria – the worst in a century. Here’s how Islamic Relief continues to support those affected.
Islamic Relief released a new report detailing our response to the devastating earthquake that struck central Morocco in September 2023.
Hana el Abdallaoui from Islamic Relief shares a recap of the team’s day as they continue to make a difference in Morocco. Today’s story