One year after the Morocco earthquake, we continue to support the population!

© Caritas Morocco

By Judith Faucher, International Project Finance Officer

On Friday, 8 September 2023, at 23:00 local time, a powerful earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale struck Morocco, approximately 70 kilometres south of Marrakech. The earthquake was the deadliest in Morocco since 2004, with national authorities reporting 2,946 deaths and 5,674 injuries. In all affected areas, extensive damage to homes and basic infrastructure was reported, with an estimated 59,674 homes destroyed or damaged, including in remote villages in the Atlas Mountains near the epicenter. Livelihoods in these areas were severely disrupted, leaving families without a source of income. In addition to physical challenges, affected communities also faced issues related to post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as child and widow protection.

Against this backdrop, Caritas Morocco, a development and peace partner – Caritas Canada, mobilized quickly after the earthquake to assist victims, complementing the assistance provided by the Moroccan government. In the first phase of the emergency response between September 2023 and March 2024 (seven months), Caritas Morocco was able to directly reach 8,877 people, including 278 families in the Ouarzazate region and 1,553 families in the Al Haouz region. The basic assistance provided to these families included:

75 new temporary shelters installed. 278 hygiene kits and 278 basic equipment kits such as mattresses, blankets, insulating plastic mats and multi-purpose solar lanterns provided. 9 modular sanitation blocks with toilets, showers, sinks, water heaters, tanks and lighting installed. 1 borehole constructed to ensure stable drinking water supply for 7 villages. 1,243 households distributed food baskets.

In addition, 100 earthquake-affected migrants in urban areas of Marrakech received full support including food assistance, temporary shelter and personal hygiene services.

Following a needs assessment, the second phase of the 12-month response (from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025) is currently being implemented by Caritas Morocco in partnership with local associations. This project is supported by Development and Peace – Caritas Canada, having raised $306,098 thanks to the generosity of our members and the Canadian public through our emergency appeal. It also benefits from a significant financial support of $226,300 from the Government of Quebec (read the press release in French only) through the Ministry of International Relations and Francophonie (MRIF).

The second phase of the project aims to improve the living conditions of more than 5,000 people in the provinces of Ouarzazate (southeast of Marrakech), Al Haouz (southeast of Marrakech), Taroudant (southwest of Marrakech), as well as in the city of Marrakech. The main areas of intervention are:

Temporary shelters: Installation of 60 prefabricated modular shelters. Water, hygiene and sanitation: Installation of modular sanitation units for 200 households; community training on hygiene promotion; and installation of drinking water supply systems, such as building wells, installing water treatment systems or water distribution networks. Protection: Street lighting and psychosocial and educational support workshops for 400 children. Livelihoods: Income-generating activities focusing on agriculture and livestock, including distribution of goats and dairy cows, as well as strengthening women’s entrepreneurial skills.

As in the first phase, the project also aims to provide ongoing assistance to 120 migrants to help pay rent, support personal hygiene (public bathrooms and toiletries), and provide food, thanks to the organization of meals in the Marrakech church and the distribution of food baskets.

From the beginning, Caritas Canada’s work in Morocco has focused on long-term reconstruction and development, with an emphasis on community participation. Our activities in Morocco will continue in this vein in the coming period: by supporting initiatives that impact community resilience and confidence, collaborative projects that promote inclusive and sustainable development with local authorities, strengthening operating models in some areas, and implementing adaptation projects in others.

We will also continue to implement the programme to support the acquisition of basic services in isolated rural areas in earthquake zones and in urban areas that are still experiencing difficulties. We hope to strengthen the scope of our partners’ work by helping them acquire and apply their skills, exchanging experiences with other Moroccan or Maghreb organisations, and continuing to support young people and women.

Development and Peace – Caritas Canada would like to express its gratitude to the Mohammed VI Foundation for Development and Peace for its emergency financial assistance to support the Moroccan population affected by the earthquake, and to all the individuals, members and supporters who contributed to our fundraising efforts.

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