Impact of Moroccan earthquake on rural villages in mountains

Shakeel Matloob is among those sending aid and trying to rebuild towns and villages lost in the 6.8 magnitude earthquake.

Shakeel has been helping at Casablanca-based (the largest city in Morocco) charity, Big Hearts Association, since 2013 - providing support to families in rural areas and widows.

It took 11 hours for one of Big Hearts’ teams to reach one affected area after the earthquake struck. 

Fears are now growing ahead of the icy winter that will soon hit villages in tough, mountainous terrains.

Shakeel, joined by other charities and volunteers, are looking at how they can help people in the long-term.

Aid sent to help Moroccans after the devastating earthquake (Image: UGC)

Describing what he has seen so far, Shakeel said: “All the neighbouring villages have got together to do the rescue search. People have gone over and beyond, you’re talking rural villages struggling themselves [which] have donated blankets. 

“The nation came together. The poor, the rich came together. The community as a whole felt it was their duty on them to help those that were affected. 

“Morocco is not a rich country, there’s no country that is prepared for such a thing. No country’s ever ready or prepared for a disaster. 

“We’ve never had to deal with a disaster of that scale ever.”

It has been a huge effort between Governments, residents, and volunteers from across the globe.

The country’s sense of duty has seen hard-hit Moroccan taxi drivers filling up their vehicles with fuel and driving towards affected areas.

Majid Iqbal, who travelled from Bradford to help those in need, is recovering after he injured his ankle and foot on the frontline.

Working for the charity, Sanad Alajial Agadir, alongside fellow Bradfordian Basharat Abder Rehman, they have been vital in delivering aid to hard to reach locations.

Khalsa UK AID, a Sikh charity, also flew out to give their support.

Basharat shared this view of a village destroyed in the earthquake that hit Morocco (Image: UGC)

In a video update, Basharat said: "We've come back here to the village, we bought them tents, food, they had no shelter, no food. The whole village is destroyed. 30 people lost their lives in this village.

"I'm in the heart of the village and there's nothing left at all. 

"Keep your donations coming, these people have nothing, nothing at all. We've just brought a large freezer, loads of kitchen equipment, we're going to set a large commercial kitchen at the camp. 

"Every single house is down. There's just one right at the far end, a recent new build, but apart from that everything is destroyed."

Most of the aid has been sent to Casablanca and delivered directly by teams of volunteers.

Basharat with a representative of Khalsa Aid in Morocco (Image: UGC)

A huge portion of charity donations have come from the Bradford district, Shakeel said.

“We were naturally overwhelmed at how the Moroccans as a nation took this on board as a personal mission to do their bit,” Shakeel said.

But many are worried about how Morocco will rebuild itself in the colder months. 

Many remote villages do not exist now, Shakeel said, particularly in the Atlas Mountains.  

Speaking about his fears, he said: “The fact is, no future sheltering for them in terms of structures that’s waterproof, winter proof, some sort of insulation. 

“The Atlas Mountains, it’s cold, they get snow. That’s where most of our focus is. We’re a bit worried, in terms of people might suffocate it’s very cold.

“The Government has said they are going to be rebuilding. It’s not easy to quickly rebuild any type of shelter.”