The earthquake in Morocco: here’s how to help the population

The earthquake in Morocco is far from having a definitive death toll. Over 2,500 people have died so far. In some villages people dig with bare hands, but Rabat has not asked for international help accepting only proposals from Spain, the United Kingdom, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Practically all the countries of the world, near and far, allies or enemies, have offered themselves, but until Morocco asks, no help can come from the Italian Civil Protection, to France, the United States, Japan, even Algeria and large part of Africa.

Officially the Moroccan government does not ask why “the lack of coordination could be counterproductive.” The king, Mohammed VI, was not even in the country at the time of the earthquake, but in his castle in France officially for health reasons. The failure to request aid, however, is a question of international politics, of less than idyllic relations with many states and of the desire to demonstrate to others that they have no need and do not want to contract political debts.

No institutional missions have started and international NGOs have not yet been able to send materials and personnel beyond those already present in the country. This is clearly explained by the message from Unicef ​​which «is following the situation and is ready to support the Moroccan government at its request and under the coordination of the United Nations, to help reach the children affected by this disaster». There are 300 thousand euros made available to the Italian Episcopal Conference. Volunteers from Caritas, the NGOs Cefa, Solleterre, Migrantes and Doctors Without Borders are ready.

However, there are ways to help the country. THE Young Italian-Moroccans with a video message they started a fundraiser on Go Fund Me: «To provide immediate assistance and support long-term programs for the reconstruction of affected communities. The proceeds will go to the Italian Red Cross via their account dedicated to the earthquake emergency in Morocco. This body will be the direct and institutional intermediary for the Moroccan Red Crescent.”

On the same crowdfunding platform, theJasmine Association of Legnano, a point of reference for Moroccan women and families, has started a campaign that has already exceeded 20 thousand euros in less than a day. «Donations will be paid into a verified institutional bank account. Through material aid that we will send to associations that are on site including our friend Soufiane, owner of Roba da Marocchini, the largest Instagram page of the Moroccan Community in Italy. Soufiane is working from Morocco to sort and collect containers of aid from all parts of the world.”

The largest initiative comes from France. Two Moroccan citizens residing in the country, Sarah Jaidi and Othmane Lamrinilaunched a fundraiser which in just 48 hours reached over 700 thousand euros to be allocated to the SOS Children’s Villages Morocco association.