Cash Relief for Morocco Earthquake Survivors
Donate directly to impacted families to meet their most immediate needs in the wake of the disaster.
Update: our response is now closed.
Learn more about our emergency relief work and give directly to other survivors here.
You can send funds directly to Moroccans impacted by the devastating earthquake.
On September 8th, the largest earthquake to hit the region in over 100 years struck Morocco’s High Atlas Mountains, with 450,000 people surrounding the Marrakech area estimated to be impacted. Communities near the epicenter in Al-Haouz, Chichaoua, and Taroudant were already among the poorest in the country and now struggle to afford food, medicine, safe shelter, and transportation out of impacted areas.
Our team has delivered cash to 9,000+ people in poverty in Morocco since 2019 and is working to reach survivors as quickly as we’re able.
We expect to reach 1,400+ survivors by sending cash to work cooperatives in the region.
- We are expanding our existing co-op program to deliver funds as quickly as possible.
- 6+ months after the earthquake, many survivors are still living in tents and haven’t received any other aid yet.
Each co-op will receive ~$9,000 to help rebuild their livelihoods.
- Co-ops will be targeted based on need and distance from the earthquake’s epicenter.
- Recipients are investing funds in their businesses (e.g. ovens, seeds, livestock) so they can generate income for their families.
Most survivors we’ve reached still have access to functioning markets, banks, and local cash-points, but have only received food support or no aid at all.
- Beyond structural damage and losing family members, survivors are reporting loss of livelihoods and psychological distress as their primary concerns. In some villages near the epicenter, 100% of survivors we spoke to have lost all sources of income after the earthquake.
- 450,000 Moroccans have been impacted by the earthquake; many are women, orphans, or otherwise financially vulnerable and need both immediate cash assistance and long-term recovery funds.
Even before the devastating earthquake, Moroccans were struggling with rising living costs, a global food crisis, extreme weather, and drought. Without a swift response, this will push the most vulnerable families further into poverty.
Jamila Abass
GiveDirectly Country Director in Morocco
If for any reason we are unable to deliver all funds to earthquake survivors, donations will be delivered to other Moroccans in poverty or survivors of the next global emergency.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who would be eligible to receive money?
We’re actively working with local partners to identify and prioritize impacted communities based on distance from the earthquake’s epicenter, poverty levels, and need.
What if you raise excess funds?
Survivors urgently need money to survive and rebuild their lives. If fundraising surpasses our current goal, we’re looking to scale our response to deliver more funds to more people in need. If we’re unable to deliver funds to those directly affected for any reason, the remaining funds will be allocated to our other poverty programs in Morocco or future emergency responses. We will update this page as we continue scoping a response.
Who is GiveDirectly?
We’re a nonprofit that lets donors send money directly to the world’s poorest, no strings attached. We have delivered cash aid to 1.5M people across 13 countries, including crises and natural disaster responses in Turkey, Malawi, Puerto Rico, and Yemen.
Is my gift tax-deductible?
Yes, donations are tax-deductible in the United States. GiveDirectly is a registered 501(c)(3), and our U.S. federal EIN is 27-1661997. We accept all major credit and debit cards, PayPal, checks, wires, stocks, cryptocurrencies, and more.
If you’re giving outside the U.S., you can still give to this campaign but your gift may not be tax-deductible. You can donate via our international partners to claim tax benefits, but those donations unfortunately won’t be restricted to Morocco earthquake relief.
Reach out to us at [email protected] with any questions or for more information on ways to give.