Support High Atlas community earthquake resilience

First of all, thank you for your ongoing support to our campaign, and for being here. Although we have been carrying out many distributions and establishing long-term support efforts in response to the needs of High Atlas Communities thanks to your generosity, your support is still very much needed.

Many of our partner communities now find themselves residing in tents, a situation likely to persist for several months, with the approaching threat of harsh winter conditions casting a shadow of uncertainty, especially when it comes to the safety and well-being of their children. Schools lie in ruins, disrupting the education of countless children and potentially hindering their academic progress. Meanwhile, livelihoods have been severely impacted, with vital components like irrigation systems, livestock, and agricultural lands all suffering extensive damage. These challenges require our ongoing and steadfast support until the Atlas communities are back on their feet again

These past few days, we have continued our support in the field. In partnership with Muslim Care Malaysia, we visited four different communities to offer essential supplies. These supplies included 250 boxes of vegetables, five cows worth of meat and 6 tonnes of fodder.

We distributed these supplies to various villages in different regions. In the Imegdal commune, the supplies were given to the villages of Ourigh, Tiniskt, Igherm, Imidl, Wakhfamane, Anamer, Warti and Tawrirt. In the Ijoukak commune, the village of Targa received support, benefiting 64 families. The Talat N’Yaaqoub area saw assistance reaching Ifourirn and Mzouzite villages, and in the Ighil commune, Amarzeguane and Tisila villages also received aid.

Additionally, as part of a coalition-building effort, we organised a meeting in Marrakech with various NGOs and associations. These organizations played a significant role in providing relief during the earthquake. During the meeting, disaster relief experts guided us on the next steps and how to improve our organization to provide the best possible support to the affected villages.

This past week, we undertook several interventions and focused on planning in preparation for upcoming weeks. Here is a summary of the progress made during this week:

Tiniskt Visit:
On Thursday, September 28th, our team, accompanied by dedicated members of Muslim Care Malaysia, visited Tiniskt and the plant nursery in Imgdal, the basecamp of villagers from Ourigh. Our primary goal was to distribute essential supplies to the villagers and assess their ongoing needs.

Distribution in Demnate:
Our commitment to making a difference extends beyond Tiniskt. On Friday, September 29th, our team carried out a distribution in Commune Ait Tamlil in Demnate. We provided critical resources, including food supplies, flashlights and solar projectors, to 30 families. This initiative was made possible through our partnership with Cooperative Imiri and Cooperative Demnatna, who have been invaluable in helping us assess the evolving needs of the community.

Visit to the Zerkten School Complex:
Our team had a fruitful visit to the Zerkten school complex alongside the Association des Amis du CHU to assess the needs in this area. During this visit, we witnessed the distribution of monthly allocations to support widowed mothers residing in some of the 35 villages within the rural commune. Additionally, the team had the opportunity to observe the prefabricated temporary classrooms, which are being used to replace some of the 555 schools that were destroyed in the earthquake in Al Haouz Province.

Understanding the Experience:
This trip allowed us to gain a profound understanding of the challenges faced by the people of Demnate. In Douar Taslent N’Ait Mgoun, almost half of the families have lost their homes to the earthquake and have had to create makeshift camps in a flat area of the Douar. In Douar Imziln, we extended our support to widowed women, recognizing their unique struggles and offering a helping hand.

Through the unwavering support of our GlobalGiving donors, we continue to make a positive impact on the lives of those affected by the earthquake. Thank you.