Morocco Earthquake

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2023

Middle East & North Africa

Disaster Response. Step One. Get There.

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NGO partners supported

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Aid Supplies Delivered (tons)

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Situation Overview

On September 8, 2023, a rare and powerful 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck central Morocco in the High Atlas mountains near the city of Marrakech. Thousands of people were tragically killed with communities in rural and mountainous areas impacted the most. Hundreds of thousands require food and shelter. Airlink is responding by supporting the mobilization, transport, and logistics needs of our NGO network to rapidly send aid and assistance.

September 20, 2023: Airlink supports 8 NGO partners, facilitating flights for 15 skilled responders

With assistance from United Airlines, American Airlines, and donors like you, Airlink has thus far facilitated free flights for 15 responders on behalf of eight different NGO partners. This includes Disaster Tech Lab, Fuel Relief Fund, GAiN, GlobalMedic, Humanity First UK, IsraAID, Human Initiative, and Grenzenlose Wärme.

On the ground, partners are focused on coordinating logistics and shelter and distributing tents, food, non-food items (NFIs).

The rainy season in Morocco begins in October. Makeshift settlements in the Atlas Mountains will be exposed to rain and potential landslides. With the cold weather approaching and more IDPs using gas heaters, there is also the risk of fire across these communities.

September 10, 2023: Needs include shelter materials, medical support, food, and water

The death toll has increased to 2,122 and 2,421 injured. Greatest needs include shelter materials, medical support, food, and water. The UN along with several governments around the world are ready to assist. Algeria has also opened its airspace for humanitarian flights to Morocco. The next few days will be critical for finding people trapped by rubble. Some of the worst affected areas are remote and mountainous and therefore hard to reach given the damage to roads and access constraints. An official call for international assistance is yet to be issued. Airlink is responding by supporting the mobilization, transport, and logistics needs of NGOs and is coordinating with those that are developing plans to send response teams and aid supplies.

September 9, 2023: Horrific 6.8-magnitude earthquake strikes Central Morocco, Airlink preparing humanitarian response to mobilize NGO network

Our hearts are heavy following the rare and powerful 6.8-magnitude earthquake that stuck central Morocco Friday evening in the High Atlas mountains near the city of Marrakech. At least 2,000 people have lost their lives, more than 2,059 are injured, villages have been completely destroyed, and infrastructure has been severely damaged. This includes the destruction of historic buildings in Marrakesh, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Airlink is closely monitoring the situation. All airports and seaports are fully operational. As of yet, there has been no call for international assistance, which if enacted, would result in a full-scale humanitarian response. As loss of life, damages, and needs are assessed, we are reaching out to our NGO and airline partners to prepare a response.

Airlink will begin by supporting NGOs who have an invitation from either the Moroccan government or a local organization, such as a country office or long-term partner, while we await the call for international assistance.