Support High Atlas community earthquake resilience

Thanks to the generosity of hundreds of incredible donors, we have raised nearly 110,000 GBP in 96 hours across our 2 crowdfunding campaigns on GlobalGiving and PayPal.

What we did today

• Six vehicles were dispatched from our Marrakech office with in-kind material donations garnered through our social media campaign, along with supplies we’ve procured. These resources were strategically allocated to cover a range of affected villages, including Talat n Yassin, Imegdal Centre, and Ijoukak.

• A strong aftershock of magnitude 4.6 struck earlier this morning, inducing panic and blocking roads with fallen rocks. This led to a delay in the delivery of our aid to Ijoukak. Fortunately, our team members remained unharmed. However, subsequent reports indicated that more homes had collapsed.

• One of our plant nurseries in Imegdal (see images) has transitioned into a site for setting up tents for people who lost their homes throughout the entire commune. Additionally, this location now serves as a central spot for receiving supplies from travelling volunteers. These items are distributed thoughtfully according to what the affected surrounding villages need, with oversight provided by Hamid, a resident of Imegdal and committed member of the MBLA team (see image).

What we learned

• Local knowledge and an ethos of care for place and people matters during disasters. Hamid has worked with MBLA and GDF for over adecade, managing a nursery he helped to found. In the process of aid distribution he is guiding, Hamid can draw on the skills, care and deep local knowledge of the landscape and communities honed in the allocation and distribution of tens of thousands of medicinal plants, fruit and nut trees to his region over a decade (see images). We are confident that some of the medicinal plants—like wild thyme and lavender—that Hamid cultivated, distributed and helped to replant out in the landscape will also help to nourish Imegdal communities during this emergency.

• Our livestock expert has consulted with the Delegation de Santé of Al Haouz about contamination risks and potential epidemics. Deceased animals that have not yet been removed, in combination with rains, will increase the risk of contamination. We are now planning to include this issue in our relief strategy as well as providing veterinary care alongside SPANA working animal charity. We will also be purchasing livestock fodder to send in future expeditions.

What we will do next:

• Our team also collated urgent supplies for Mejjat- a village which has received no aid since the earthquake hit. Based on their input we have collected large amounts of blankets, clothes, water, food and baby formula to be sent to them tomorrow. 

• We are currently also formulating a volunteer code of conduct and allocation mechanism to ensure that the right help reaches the right places and communities are protected.

Our deep gratitude for your support!

Images: See report text and captions below.

Source, cover image and following two images: MBLA Instagram, mbla.morocco, 12 Sep 2023 Source, plant nursery images: MBLA website, https://www.mblaassociation.org/where-we-work/.

Update Sep 13, 2023, 11 pm Morocco time

Thanks to your generosity and that of hundreds of other incredible donors, as of 13 September 2023, we have raised 105,000 GBP across our two crowdfunding campaigns, here on GlobalGiving and via PayPal. We also learned today that we will receive important support from GlobalGiving as part of its disaster relief fund. Our gratitute to you, our donors, and to GlobalGiving for lifting up our work!

This is a marathon, not a sprint. Directing international donors to this GlobalGiving project, our amazing colleagues at Moroccan Biodiversity and Livelihoods Association (MBLA) wrote on their Instagram today, 13 September 2023:

"The devastating reality that Atlas communities must endure in the months ahead is heart-wrenching. Thousands of lives have been lost, and hundreds of thousands find themselves displaced, exposed to the harsh cold of the night with no shelter. Once-beautiful villages now lie in ruins.

The path to rebuilding these communities, restoring their livelihoods, and returning a sense of normalcy will be challenging and lengthy. The trauma these communities will carry with them is unimaginable.

It is only through solidarity that we can alleviate their suffering and aid in rebuilding their lives. Your support is crucial and greatly appreciated for the long road ahead. Volunteers and resources will be essential, both now and in the coming months. Please keep these communities in your thoughts, and if you are unable to support today, know that your help will still be invaluable in the future.”

What we did today

• Our team went to assess the damage and provide essentials (blankets, rugs, food) in Ait L’kak village, where our plant nursery is based. Houses have been rendered uninhabitable, with people camping in apple orchards, and 3 families taking shelter in MBLA's eco-museum center, which is under construction there. 

• Our Agadir-based team was able to procure large quantities of other essentials like blankets, basic duvets, plastic shoes, solar projectors [solar-powered lighting], and flashlights that charge with solar power. We will be able to deliver part of this to Marrakech this Friday and send part of it to Chichaoua, which has been badly affected. 

What we learned:

• We received news today that one village in Chichaoua is in dire need of food, clothes, tents and covers. We are now arranging a separate supplies trip to this village to ensure their urgent needs are met. We have also obtained large water containers of 1-2 tonnes capacity to help villages overcome the lack of water.

What we will do next:

• We are still urgently looking for temporary housing solutions with a number of providers of tents, box homes and others, and piercing together donations and discounts for the same. At present, the priority is arranging waterproof shelter for the coming weeks and procuring thermal wear to protect against bad weather.

• We have also started creating a theory of change for short, mid and long-term intervention to ensure that we keep account of needs over time and position ourselves to help communities restore their ways of life as soon as possible. The strategy accounts for everything from medical care to employment regeneration, agropastoralism and earthquake-safe yet traditional home rebuilding. 

New and continuing collaborations

• We are in touch with various organisations and experts to facilitate this theory of change process and provide inputs to ensure that all interventions consider factors like terrain, traditional practices, biodiversity, and community welfare. Team member Ibitissam provided updates to the Guardian on their Guardian in Focus podcast, which can be heard here. We'll share more about that interview soon. CNN coverage of the team’s relief efforts in Tinisekt went live and they will accompany us on some future visits as well.

We are grateful for your support. 

Images (Source: MBLA Instagram, mbla.morocco, 13 Sep 2023)

Cover: A family's shelter in an Ait L’kak apple orchard

1. Damage to a family’s home in Ait L’kak

2. Damage to traditional construction in Ait L’kak

3. Tinisekt, where CNN accompanied the team today, 13 Sep 2023 

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Links:

• The Guardian podcast, Today in Focus - interview with Ibtissam