Press Release: ‘Little Boy Clutched Mothers' Hand as She Perished Under the Rubble’ Moroccan Aid Worker Provides Emergency Aid to Victims Impacted by the Devastating Earthquake
UK charity Muslim Hands has responded to Morocco’s deadliest earthquake in 60 years which struck on Friday 8th September at 11.00pm at 6.8 magnitude. The devastating earthquake has claimed nearly 3,000 lives and injured thousands. Muslim Hands has raised £250,000 since its appeal began to provide emergency aid to survivors which will include food parcels, water, blankets and tents.
Nawal El Makni, an aid worker with Moroccan heritage, arrived with other staff from the UK and France on Sunday morning in Marrakesh, visiting the worst impacted areas near the Atlas Mountains, the epicentre of the earthquake in the areas of Al-Hauz and Amezmiz.
Nawal El Makni said:
‘My family is based in Casablanca, but have relocated to Marrakech twenty years ago, so I have spent many summers there. While I have family and friends who have been severely affected by the recent earthquake, I'm thankful that there have been no serious casualties among them. Coincidentally, just this past July, I enjoyed a one-week holiday with my children in the mountainous region of Marrakech, the very area that is now the epicentre of this horrendous earthquake. The mere thought of what the victims are enduring is truly terrifying.
Having visited Amezmiz, I spoke to a little boy who was roughly nine years of age telling me the heartbreaking story of him holding his mother’s hand as the rubble covered her and she sadly passed away. Many in Amezmiz and Al Hauz are living in makeshift shelters enduring difficult weather conditions, with the baking heat during the day and cold nights. Many of these families have lost everything and with the generous donations we can make a huge difference.’
Yasrab Shah, Muslim Hands Fundraising Director, said: ‘We are extremely humbled by the generous outpouring of donations since we started the appeal a few days ago. In the first two nights over £130,000 was raised from TV appeals to our social networks. This is the worst earthquake that has ever devastated the country in its history and the people of Morocco need you more now than ever before.’
Muslim Hands will be reaching out to 400 families in the Atlas region distributing £65,000 worth of aid as part of its initial response. To donate visit muslimhands.org.uk or call 0115 9117222.
