Earthquake in Morocco: more than 2,900 dead and thousands of houses destroyed, a tragic toll

The results of the earthquake in Morocco are still provisional but already very heavy. Nearly 3,000 people have died, more than 5,500 others have been injured and hundreds of thousands are left homeless. Humanitarian aid is being organized to help them.

More than 2,900 dead, 5,600 injured, 20,000 houses damaged or destroyed and 300,000 people left homeless. The earthquake that occurred in Morocco, in the province of Al Haouz on September 8, was devastating. Several days after the earthquake, Moroccan rescuers and international reinforcements are continuing their efforts to save as many victims as possible, but at a higher cost. with every hour that passes, hopes of being able to rescue survivors dwindle.

If rescue operations continue, particularly in the villages of the High Atlas which only saw help arrive three days after the earthquake, the time is now at hand. care for victims and survivors. Many humanitarian associations and NGOs organize solidarity. and convoys to provide disaster victims with shelter, water, food and care. But face to face the extent of the damage and while thousands of Moroccans have lost everything, humanitarian aid will take several days to arrive. provide basic needs of all the victims.

Hundreds of thousands of victims, a very heavy human toll

The earthquake in Morocco left 2,946 dead and 5,674 injured according to the latest official report published today. by the Ministry of the Interior on Wednesday September 13, five days after the earthquake. This assessment has already been made. heavy, however, remains provisional. The Al Haouz region, where was the epicenter of the earthquake, and that of Taroudant was destroyed. the most affected and those with the most human losses: 1,684 people lost their lives in this area. Al Haouz and 980 à Taroudant.

The victims of the earthquake are significantly more numerous, because according to Unicef ​​at least 300,000 people – including a third of children – have found themselves without a home since the earthquake. These people have lost everything and are counting on humanitarian aid to be able to survive. their primary needs.

The results are also considerable on a material level. The Moroccan Minister of Planning and Housing, Fatima-Zahra Mansouri said: à Médias24 that at least 6,000 houses have been destroyed. destroyed and more than 20,000 were destroyed. damaged. A balance sheet which is, there; also, provisional.

Significant needs for humanitarian aid

After having conducted research to find and save as many victims as possible, the priority is The aim of the authorities and NGOs is to come to the aid and respond to the needs of disaster survivors. Many NGOs such as the Red Cross and Red Crescent, Unicef ​​and the Fondation de France have organized this event. collections and launched calls for donations to finance all the aid Moroccans need. If more than a million euros had been lost harvested As of September 11, three days after the earthquake, 105 million euros are needed to respond to the most urgent needs. knowledge of health, water, sanitation and hygiene, said the director of operations of the International Federation of Society Societies. Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC), on September 12 during a press briefing at the Geneva.

These donations help finance tents and blankets. provide disaster victims who are now homeless. The delivery of water or the purchase of decontamination tablets to make water drinkable are also financed by these donations, as are decontamination kits. care and hygiene. Food donations are also very important. But a manager of the Mohamed V Solidarity Foundation indicated Moroccan media Le Matin reported that victims have practical needs: warm clothes, shoes, sanitary napkins, toiletry bags, health products, etc. hygiene, milk and baby food, baby clothing and child, etc.

Note that from France it is preferable to send financial donations to NGOs rather than donations in kind which are more difficult to obtain. transported and not always corresponding to the needs on site.

An earthquake far from Moroccan seismic zones

The epicenter of the earthquake that struck Morocco was located in the Al Haouz region, located southwest of Marrakech. It is more precisely to 70 kilometers from the large tourist town, in a mountainous and poor area of ​​the Atlas, where the tremors were strong. the most violent. Measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale, the earthquake was felt even in cities further north in the country such as Casablanca or the capital Rabat. Al Haouz, Taroudant, Chichaoua and Ouarzazate were attacked. They were shaken by the earthquake and suffered significant damage, but it was the first two that were destroyed. the most affected.

Area affected by the tremors of the earthquake in Morocco © Google Maps

L' The epicenter of the earthquake in Morocco was between 10 and 20 kilometers deep below the earth's surface, a short distance which also explains the force of the tremors. The location of the epicenter of the earthquake was surprising, because if Morocco is located in an active seismic zone, the latter is located just a few kilometers away. 500 kilometers north of the epicenter of Al Haouz, the interface between the African and European plates.