Support High Atlas community earthquake resilience

We are grateful for the support our campaign is receiving and for the opportunity to participate in GlobalGiving’s Lilttle by Little Campaign. Until Saturday 23 September, GlobalGiving will match 50% of any one-off donation up to $50. This is a wonderful initiative to help increase the impact of your donation for a limited time.

While our remote team members continue fundraising efforts for short and long-term support, 4 volunteers led by our SLP assistant Fatiha reached Talmakant after travelling 120 km from Agadir to distribute supplies to 3 douars within the Id-Oumhmoud tribe. These douars are urgently in need of food, basic clothing, blankets and mattresses.

In response, we prepared 30 boxes, each containing food and hygiene products, along with clothes. Supplies also include 100 pairs of shoes, 37 blankets and 30 mattresses. The supplies will be distributed tomorrow as it was late when the team arrived. Locals insisted that the team spend the night, and they will return to Agadir tomorrow.

Meanwhile, our Marrakech-based team visited 5 douars (villages), accompanied by the Aerial Recovery and Mercy Malaysia teams.

– In Douar Tiniskt, of which the majority of homes didn’t survive the earthquake, 3 doctors from Aerial Recovery examined around 30 locals with assistance of our team who provided translations between doctors and patients.

– In Douars Bour Ouddif, Aslloune, Agadir Noumarkhssen and Tirekht, which are all located in the Ighil commune (the epicenter of the earthquake), we distributed 29 covers, 10 projectors with solar panels, 10 flashlights, 12 infant milks, 5 boots for adults, 10 shoes for adults, 24 children’s sandals and a big clothing bag in preparation of winter.

In addition, we are consolidating several fodder supplies and medicines to be distributed based on community requests. We are also mobilising resources to respond to an urgent request for food supplies from one of our cooperative members in the largest Douar community in Lalla Takerkoust, Amzough Chetoui, where more than 280 households are currently without a home. 

Thank you all for being here. We will share more updates in the coming days as we continue daily field trips and coordinated efforts with various partners to ensure we continue to effectively respond to urgent requests.

We want to thank each and every individual that has donated to this campaign so far. It has enabled us to take action where most needed and to respond to urgent requests for support and to reach so many communities.

While our team is working tirelessy in the field in collaboration with local partners including Moroccan Biodiversity & Livelihoods Assocation, here are a few quick updates on the past two days:

• On Monday 18^th September, our team was able to provide medical treatment to 78 people in Taourirt, Semghourt, and Taghzout villages with the help of the Aerial Recovery team. We also distributed olive oil, fava beans, oranges and clothes were in Aourigh and Anammer villages (see image of Annamer, below).

• We transported a generous donation of 6 tons of animal feed to the Imegdal nursery, courtesy of Alf Tansift. We will also be sending more fodder to the nursery soon, and this will be distributed amongst surrounding villages. Local mules and donkeys are currently playing a key role in earthquake relief efforts, especially in very remote villages that are only accessible by walking. Given the lack of feed, it is essential we also support local livestock as a part of our aid strategy – as many community members no longer have the means to provide for their animals, which not only represent an important source of income but also an essential means of transport - especially in villages where vehicles cannot access.

• We continue to collect donations at the office of our partner MBLA in Marrakech, which are taken to affected villages and distributed during our field visits.

• We are also meeting with varied international NGOs to help streamline their efforts and direct their donations and expertise towards different needs and communities. As part of a long-term strategy, we are collaborating with Archimath to assess how houses can be rebuilt using paraseismic techniques and local materials.

We will be updating you again tomorrow with more information. Until then, you can follow us on Instagram or visit our website for updates.

Image 1: Beautiful agricultural terraces in Annamer village (2021).

Image 2: Providing medical aid to 78 people in Taourirt, Semghourt, and Taghzout villages with the help of the Aerial Recovery team.

Image 3: A mule carrying essential supplies on his back towards a remote village.