Earthquake in Morocco
Swiss Solidarity is appealing the Swiss population to show solidarity with those affected by the violent earthquake that hit Morocco in the night between 8 and 9 September.
Devastating earthquake in Morocco
During the night of 8 to 9 September, a large part of Morocco was rocked by a violent earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale. It was the strongest earthquake ever recorded in the country. The disaster left a trail of destruction and suffering in its wake. Entire villages were destroyed, thousands of people lost their lives and just as many were injured. Many survivors lost everything from one day to the next.
In the first hours after the disaster, we contacted our partner organisations to discuss what help we could provide on the ground, given the scale of the tragedy. Some of them, such as the feminist peace organisation cfd, were already in Morocco and are working tirelessly to distribute water, blankets, food and tents. These organisations are doing everything they can to reach the remote mountain villages that have been particularly hard hit by the earthquake.
Swiss Solidarity financed emergency aid projects to support the earthquake victims. These included the provision of water, blankets, clothing and emergency shelter, as well as medical care and psychosocial support.
The foundation's partner organisations also focused on improving access to remote and isolated mountain villages.
Reconstruction poses a major challenge, not least because of the logistical complexity resulting from the scattered location of houses in very remote and sometimes difficult-to-access areas. In 2024, it will nevertheless be necessary to focus aid on permanent solutions to help families turn a new page, spare them a second winter in tents and enable them to resume their economic activities. This is also crucial for children so that they can return to school safely and learn in appropriate conditions.