A total of 41,404 individuals and 10,112 households across 261 villages in the four provinces hardest hit by the September 8, 2023, earthquake have benefited from the Moroccan Red Crescent’s (MRC) relief and intervention efforts.
The figures were presented on Thursday in Marrakech during a meeting dedicated to reviewing the 18-month response by the public utility-recognized association and its partners to alleviate the suffering of those affected by the Al-Haouz earthquake.
Beneficiaries were spread across the provinces of Al Haouz (19,266 individuals, 106 villages, and 4,817 households), Chichaoua (9,421 individuals, 93 villages, and 2,355 households), Taroudant (8,075 individuals, 45 villages, and 2,126 households), and Azilal (4,643 individuals, 17 villages, and 814 households).
The MRC’s interventions spanned several areas, including food aid, first aid, shelter and housing, financial assistance, healthcare, water, hygiene and sanitation, and risk reduction.
In the area of first aid, 60,000 people benefited from the MRC’s interventions, including 50,000 emergency operations conducted during the first three months following the earthquake. More than 17 schools received training and awareness sessions on first aid.
According to MRC data, 6,034 food baskets were distributed to 24,938 beneficiaries in the affected provinces.
In terms of shelter and housing, 22,456 people received aid from the MRC, and 8,233 non-food item (NFI) kits—including blankets and kitchen supplies—were distributed.
Additionally, 1,756 tents and 877 temporary shelter units (TSUs) were set up, including 450 TSUs for the education sector and seven for the health sector.
In the fields of water, hygiene, and sanitation, the MRC rehabilitated or installed 674 infrastructure units over the 18-month period. Concurrently, 128 awareness sessions on personal hygiene and waste management were held, and 54,956 kits (including hygiene kits, jerrycans, and buckets) were distributed.
Under the financial assistance component, 228 households benefited from the pilot project “TAR Chafarni,” with a total budget of 228,000 dirhams.
Moreover, 1,546 households—representing 7,730 individuals—received support during the cold wave in Chichaoua, with an estimated cost of 6.1 million dirhams. The total budget allocated to the three unconditional cash assistance projects amounted to 10.2 million dirhams.
In the area of mental health and psychosocial support, 541 people received care, with 86% reporting improved well-being following social support and stress management sessions.
Speaking at the event, Vice President of the MRC, Moulay Hafid Alaoui, highlighted the commitment of various partners who have directly supported the organization, emphasizing the MRC’s integrated sectoral approach, which ensured the quality and continuity of its interventions across more than 260 villages in the four most affected provinces.
A member of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the MRC counts over 40,000 volunteers nationwide.
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