2024-09-06 22:00:19
One year after the severe earthquake, many people are still in need of help. Many families are still living in emergency camps or makeshift shelters and lack basic supplies.
The quake on September 8, 2023 killed over 3,000 people and left over 500,000 people homeless, including many children. 60,000 houses were destroyed, as well as at least 530 schools – with a massive impact on the education of 100,000 children. “Everything was in ruins, the roads were cut off, children were left alone, it was terrible,” says Samya ElMousti, National Director of SOS Children’s Villages in Morocco.
SOS Children’s Villages provided emergency aid immediately after the earthquake. “Our team worked tirelessly,” says ElMousti. Thanks to its decades-long presence in Morocco, the aid organization was able to reach the affected children and families quickly and provide effective help: A total of 27,000 children and over 9,000 adults were supported with accommodation, food, medicine, clothing, access to water and psychological first aid, among other things.
“In the second phase, starting this year, we will support the affected children and families in their reconstruction,” says ElMousti. SOS Children’s Villages built wells, set up modular classrooms for over 7,000 children, ran educational and digitalisation courses, supported over 10,000 children and adults with psychological help and helped almost 600 families to rebuild their livelihoods. Schools were renovated together with partners.
Even though much still needs to be done, ElMousti is cautiously optimistic. She says: “We hear people laughing again, they are beginning to regain confidence and are slowly returning to their everyday lives.”
SOS Children’s Villages provides emergency aid worldwide
Since 2012, the number of people dependent on humanitarian aid has increased fivefold – from 62 million to 363 million in 2023 (UN OCHA). Especially in long-lasting and unfortunately forgotten crises, people lose their livelihoods and need continuous support. SOS Children’s Villages’ emergency aid often translates into reconstruction and development projects to provide long-term support to children and families. In 2023, SOS Children’s Villages’ humanitarian projects reached over 1.3 million people in 32 crises worldwide – more than half of them were children.
For further information and the opportunity to donate to emergency aid projects so that SOS Children’s Villages can continue to provide quick and effective assistance in unforeseen disasters such as these, please visit:
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One Year On: Morocco’s Earthquake Survivors Still in Need of Help
September 8, 2023, will be etched in the memories of Moroccans for years to come. A devastating earthquake struck the country, leaving a trail of destruction and despair in its wake. One year later, many families are still struggling to rebuild their lives, and thousands of children are still without access to basic necessities like education and healthcare.
The earthquake, which had a magnitude of 6.9 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent), caused widespread destruction, particularly in the Al Haouz region [[3]]. The quake resulted in the loss of over 3,000 lives, leaving more than 500,000 people homeless, including many children. The impact on education was particularly severe, with at least 530 schools destroyed or damaged, affecting the education of over 100,000 children [[1]].
In the aftermath of the disaster, SOS Children’s Villages sprang into action, providing emergency aid to those affected. Thanks to its long-standing presence in Morocco, the organization was able to respond quickly and effectively, supporting over 27,000 children and 9,000 adults with accommodation, food, medicine, clothing, access to water, and psychological first aid [[1]].
However, the road to recovery is a long one, and much still needs to be done. Many families are still living in emergency camps or makeshift shelters, lacking basic supplies and struggling to rebuild their lives. That’s why SOS Children’s Villages has launched a second phase of its response, focusing on supporting affected children and families in their reconstruction efforts [[1]]. This includes building wells, setting up modular classrooms, running educational and digitalization courses, providing psychological support, and helping families rebuild their livelihoods.
The organization is also working to renovate schools in partnership with local authorities, recognizing the critical importance of education in helping children recover from traumatic experiences. As Samya ElMousti, National Director of SOS Children’s Villages in Morocco, notes, “Everything was in ruins, the roads were cut off, children were left alone, it was terrible.” But she is cautiously optimistic, saying, “We hear people laughing again, they are beginning to regain confidence and are slowly returning to their everyday lives” [[1]].
The situation in Morocco is a stark reminder of the need for ongoing humanitarian support, particularly in forgotten crises where people’s livelihoods are affected for extended periods. According to the UN OCHA, the number of people dependent on humanitarian aid has increased fivefold since 2012, from 62 million to 363 million in 2023 [[1]]. SOS Children’s Villages is committed to providing emergency aid worldwide, recognizing that people affected by crises require continuous support to rebuild their lives.
As Morocco marks one year since the devastating earthquake, it’s essential to acknowledge the ongoing needs of the affected communities and to continue supporting organizations like SOS Children’s Villages in their efforts to provide vital aid and assistance. Only through collective action can we help the people of Morocco rebuild their lives and create a brighter future for themselves and their children.
References:
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023AlHaouz_earthquake”>[3]
How long did the Morocco earthquake last
One Year On: Morocco’s Earthquake Survivors Still in Need of Help
September 8, 2023, will be etched in the memories of Moroccans for years to come. A devastating earthquake struck the country, leaving a trail of destruction and despair in its wake. One year later, many families are still struggling to rebuild their lives, and thousands of children are still without access to basic necessities like education and healthcare.
The earthquake, which had a magnitude of 6.9 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent), caused widespread destruction, particularly in the Al Haouz region [[3]]. The quake resulted in the loss of over 3,000 lives, leaving more than 500,000 people homeless, including many children. The impact on education was particularly severe, with at least 530 schools destroyed or damaged, affecting the education of over 100,000 children [[1]].
In the aftermath of the disaster, SOS Children’s Villages sprang into action, providing emergency aid to those affected. Thanks to its long-standing presence in Morocco, the organization was able to respond quickly and effectively, supporting over 27,000 children and 9,000 adults with accommodation, food, medicine, clothing, access to water, and psychological first aid [[1]].
However, the road to recovery is a long one, and much still needs to be done. Many families are still living in emergency camps or makeshift shelters, lacking basic supplies and struggling to rebuild their lives. That’s why SOS Children’s Villages has launched a second phase of its response, focusing on supporting affected children and families in their reconstruction efforts [[1]]. This includes building wells, setting up modular classrooms,
