September 8 was meant to be a happy day: it was Local Surf Maroc’s founder, Rachid’s birthday.
Sure, it was a day of work, but if you’re passionate about what you do, the work doesn’t feel laborious.
But this ended up being the least of Rachid’s worries as tremors started shaking the town of Tamraght and cut electricity.
Source: The Wall Street Journal
Thankfully, we were spared the worst of the earthquake: all buildings are still standing, some with only cracks in a wall, but everyone is safe and sound. It was only in the next 24 hours that we realized how lucky we were as news and images of Al Haouz, Marrakech, Taroudant and the surrounding villages came in.
We also want to thank everyone who sent us messages to make sure if us and our families were OK. Even though Rachid and all the family were safe and sound, it was still a scary moment.
While we took to social media initially to communicate messages of safety and shock, we held back: it didn’t feel right to be “business as usual”, to promote our business, and to clog up feeds as important information was being published by news channels. Our hearts were heavy with sympathy and grief for those who had lost everything.
Just as the earthquake was a monumental event in Moroccan history, the solidarity of the Moroccan people and those who hold Morocco dear to their hearts has also been monumental. It’s only now that we feel ready to start communicating in our regular fashion and finally answer the question that everyone has been asking us, “How can we help Morocco?”
1. Don’t cancel your trip to Morocco!
(c) ShutterStock
If you had a trip planned to Morocco, contact your travel agent, tour operator, guest house, or hotel to make sure that they’re unaffected and operating as usual. If they are, they likely are pretty safe.
If, and only if, you feel comfortable and safe, please consider not canceling your trip. There is a likelihood that the Moroccans you are doing business with have family and friends in the affected area that they will be supporting, or know of local efforts to get aid to the victims of the earthquake.
Your business can be vital in crises like this.
2. If you cancel, consider a partial refund!
Source: Naturally Morocco
It’s unreasonable to think that everyone’s travel plans are only within the unaffected areas of Morocco. Some hotels, guest houses or riads will have lost communication. So confirming or canceling plans will be difficult, and if you are able to get a response and find out that your accommodation has been destroyed it’s understandable that your intention will be to cancel.
But if it’s within your means to ask for a partial refund only, or to not ask for your deposit to be refunded, this gesture could have an immense impact on the families affected. For some businesses your business is the sole income and your partial refund could mean the difference between having the basics of water, food, and shelter as the winter weather sets in; or even in the long term, being able to rebuild their lives.
3. Donate blood!
Source: The New York Times
For various reasons, a true death toll can only be determined in the weeks to come. While fellow Moroccans have flocked to blood donation centers and have made a difference for those critically injured, the need for blood donations will continue.
Resources for blood donations have been redirected to the hospitals most in need, but the need for blood donations for expected emergencies continues and may be strained.
The news has reported of tourists also donating blood, but we know that this is a very personal choice. If you are traveling to Morocco in the coming weeks and wish to donate as a way to contribute to the ongoing efforts please check with your own country’s donation guidelines so you don’t prevent yourself from being able to donate when you get back home.
If you are in the Agadir area and still wish to donate, the place to donate is Centre Régional de Transfusion Sanguine - Agadir and the phone number to call is +212 (0) 5282-15142
4. Donate to a reputable charity supporting Morocco’s earthquake victims!
Monetary donations have been clouded in suspicion in recent years, with charities mismanaging funds or aid not being delivered to victims at all. Social media has also made it difficult to wade through honest and authentic fundraisers, which has been further shrouded in negativity as influencers have seemingly used the earthquake crisis to increase views and presence.
There have been a number of charities that have stepped up to offer a pathway to make legitimate donations. We’ve done the best research we can, to put forward reputable names and links so that if you feel you can contribute financially you can feel assured the aid will be delivered.
Bank Al-Maghrib
A special account has been set up to contribute to national rescue and relief funds. Click the following link for the banking information from within Morocco or outside of Morocco.
Moroccan Red Crescent Society (MRCS)
In collaboration with the International Federation of Red Cross, MRCS has supplied rescue teams in affected areas providing first aid, psychological support, and transportation for the injured. Click the following link on how to donate to support the Moroccan relief effort.
CARE
As a global organization, CARE fights poverty and provides humanitarian aid. They are accepting donations to prioritize care for vulnerable groups in Morocco, including women, girls, and youth. Since the earthquake, CARE has been prioritizing emergency water, food, shelter and psychological support. By clicking on the following link you’ll be able to donate to this charity.
5. Contribute to local fundraising efforts!
Taroudant and surrounding villages are only about an hour away from Tamraght, and it’s considered to be more remote. Aid trucks and many vehicles haven’t been able to reach some of the villages because the roads are inaccessible.
A little bit of rubble won’t keep the Moroccans down: between motorbikes and donkeys, Moroccans are overcoming the obstacles the earthquake has presented themselves. Many local NGO’s and businesses are accepting donations to help mobilize these local efforts.
We ourselves have accepted some monetary donations from past and present guests to contribute. We feel honoured and privileged that we have been trusted to make contributions on their behalf.
As of today, we have received 115 Euros and purchased 5 heavy blankets that were taken to the families in Taroudant.
We will keep this updated as best we can should we be entrusted with more donations.
However, here is a list of a few local charities that are acting as swiftly as they can to bring aid to heavily affected villages.
Amis Des Ecoles
Known chiefly for school restoration work, the NGO began collecting donations to assist in rebuilding the school affected by the earthquake. By clicking the following link, you’ll be taken straight to their donation page.
Education For All
EFA Morocco had 6 centres and a boarding house affected by the earthquake opened donations to restore the well-equipped houses for girls to prevent them from missing out on education. So far they have raised over $200,000 in their earthquake crisis appeal and if this NGO speaks to you, the following link will take you to their donation page.
Association Maison Bonheur
This charity organization is located in Taroudant, the second most affected area by the recent earthquake. Taroudant is closest to Tamraght and Taghazout and we consider this our most local NGO raising funds for those affected by the earthquake. This NGO knows first hand what the city and its people needs and have raised over 17,000 Euros. To contribute to this local effort, click the following link.
6. Keep children safe!
With every disaster comes opportunists looking to exploit the vulnerable.
There have already been reports of people taking to social media looking to marry vulnerable girls and young women, hurried adoption of children with ulterior motives, or simply preying on newly orphaned children.
Thankfully, authorities were vigilant and a few arrests have already been made of people looking to take advantage of earthquake victims.
But looking out for children is a shared responsibility, and one that doesn’t cost any money. Learning of any on or offline ill intentions needs to be reported to authorities as soon as possible so they can act swiftly. Even if you are not currently in Morocco you can notify authorities if you come across any ill intentions targeting Moroccan children by calling +212 (0) 80000 4747.
The Moroccan government is taking action to mobilize resources as quickly as possible, as well as financial aid for those who have lost everything as a result of the earthquake. For those awaiting assistance from the government, it can feel like forever while they work through the shock and chaos. But these efforts are supported and amplified by everyday people, so please don’t feel like any measure of support is too small.
Source: The National
Much has been said in admiration of the Moroccan solidarity from many countries around the world. The tenacity and determination of the Moroccan people to help each other rebuild is truly special and makes us proud to call Morocco our home. We are truly grateful for the support we have received personally and count our blessings that we’ve been able to get back to business unscathed.