ActionAid is deeply saddened by the news of the earthquake that hit Morocco on Friday, 8 September 2023, affecting the provinces and cities of Al Haouz, Marrakesh, Taroudant, Chichaoua, and Ouarzazate, and stands in solidarity with affected communities. Measuring 6.8 on the Ritcher scale, the earthquake has killed over 1,000 people and destroyed public and private infrastructure, leaving many in the affected regions in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.  

Commenting on the situation, Sara Almer, the Humanitarian Director at ActionAid International, said:  “We are concerned with the devastating impact of the earthquake, especially for women and girls who suffer the most during humanitarian emergencies. The urgent need will be to provide shelter, food, water, medical aid, and supplies for the affected communities as well as psychosocial support.”  

 She added that “ActionAid is working closely with local partners to assess the situation, ascertain the emergency support and funding required, and coordinate a response.”  

ActionAid has been present in Morocco for more than 20 years, working in collaboration with local partner organizations.  

Kirsten Sutherland, Humanitarian Program Coordinator at Alianza por la Solidaridad-ActionAid Spain said:   “In just minutes, the lives of hundreds of thousands of people have been turned upside down. Many families have lost everything – their loved ones, their homes and their belongings. Damage to infrastructure is hampering access to information and to affected communities, especially in remote areas. Our objective is to support those communities that have been most badly affected by the earthquake.”  

 About ActionAid   

ActionAid is a global federation working with more than 41 million people living in more than 72 of the world’s poorest countries. We want to see a just, fair, and sustainable world in which everybody enjoys the right to a life of dignity and freedom from poverty and oppression. We work to achieve social justice and gender equality and to eradicate poverty.