In September 2023, a 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck Marrakech, leaving thousands of people dead and even more injured. The earthquake remains the strongest to hit the nation’s center in more than a century, affecting over 300,000 people in the major city and surrounding areas. In response, Islamic Relief worked with local partners to provide immediate emergency aid including access to proper healthcare, essential non-food items, cash assistance, and even shelter. To this day, we continue to focus on long-term development aid.
Morocco is slowly becoming more arid and is highly vulnerable to climate change. Increased temperatures and changing rainfall patterns are expected to lead to recurring drought and a subsequent decrease in agricultural productivity. In turn, families across the country are projected to suffer loss of livelihood and major food insecurity.
Islamic Relief’s Dedication to Morocco
Earlier this year, Islamic Relief committed to help families across Morocco. In addition to our initial emergency response, our focus is on long-term development assistance to help pull vulnerable communities out of the cycle of poverty.
A few interventions include:
Food aid
Sustainable livelihood support including employment opportunities for young entrepreneurs with climate resilient business ideas
Emergency aid, including healthcare, shelter, hygiene kits, and winter aid (when applicable) for families affected by natural disasters including earthquakes