Disaster Relief, Disaster Response, News Release

Morocco Earthquake: ADRA Intensifies Efforts to Assist Victims in Hardest Hit Areas

SILVER SPRING, MD (September 13, 2023) – The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) emergency response teams are on the ground in Morocco ready to deliver humanitarian relief to victims in the aftermath of the deadly earthquake and aftershocks that devastated the country, on September 8. The major quake, with a magnitude of 6.8 and a depth of 18.5 kilometers (about 11.5 mi), caused massive destruction and loss of life, leaving countless people and towns in desperate need of assistance, according to local officials. 

“ADRA is committed to ensuring the well-being and safety of the affected communities throughout the recovery process.  ADRA has deployed disaster response personnel from Spain and other global offices to actively assess the situation and provide urgent relief to those in need,” says Mario Oliveira, director of emergency management for ADRA International. “We urge the international community to remember in their prayers the thousands of families who have lost loved ones and are now homeless and to stand in solidarity with Morocco in support of recovery efforts. Working together, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of those affected by this tragedy.”

© Maghreb Arabe Presse, 2023

The epicenter of the earthquake was in the High Atlas Mountains, 71 kilometers (44 miles) southwest of Marrakech. According to the UN, the tragedy has displaced over 300,000 people, left thousands injured and homeless, and killed more than 2,900 people. The death toll continues to rise as search and rescue teams fight to free victims trapped beneath the rubble. Experts indicate the quake is the largest to strike the North African country in 120 years.

© Maghreb Arabe Presse, 2023

The United Nations believes more than 100,000 children have been affected by the severe earthquake. The most pressing needs, according to local authorities, are emergency shelter, sanitation and water supplies, and medical care.

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About ADRA

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency is the international humanitarian arm of the Seventh-day Adventist Church serving in 118 countries. Its work empowers communities and changes lives around the globe by providing sustainable community development and disaster relief. ADRA’s purpose is to serve humanity so all may live as God intended.

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