A year since the Morocco Earthquake and preparing for volcanic eruptions in Colombia
In this update you will find out how your contributions have helped people in Morocco who were affected by the earthquake a year ago, on 8 September 2023 and how we have supported people in Colombia to prepare in case of a volcanic eruption.
Thank you for your ongoing support and being part of our Emergency Response Team. Your support allows us to respond quickly during emergencies. Our local experts are providing immediate support such as food, clean water, shelter, blankets, and hygiene kits. It also allows our local experts to support communities to prepare for emergencies by running workshops and giving emergency kits.
Our local partner providing aid to the communities impacted by the earthquake
It’s been a year since the earthquake hit the southeast of Marrakech, Morocco, causing severe challenges for the affected area. Around 2,000 people died after the earthquake. Our local partner, Caritas Morocco responded quickly and has provided shelter, water, hygiene kits, and food to 8,877 people in remote areas. This included, as one of many examples, support for 16 families in Barda, a small village in eastern Marrakech, who were relocated and given tents for shelter against harsh conditions, including strong winds and cold temperatures.
Our local partner also provided five tents to families whose shelters were destroyed by wind in the camp. As well as shelter, mattresses, lamps, blankets, and plastic carpets were provided to help alleviate the harsh weather conditions.
Tents were provided for people in Barda who were affected by the earthquake
"We received immense support, especially from Caritas. They provided mattresses and covers. In the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, we were sleeping outdoors, and these items proved invaluable. They also supplied us with food, and the mattresses they provided were of great assistance; we continue to use them to this day"
- Mohammed T
There are families who left the camp and returned home due to the harsh weather conditions. Among the 16 families affected, only three received government aid to repair their houses. The other affected families have received no support and continue to live in their damaged houses.
There is still work to be done, but thanks to your ongoing support, our local partner is now focused on restoring livelihoods, improving water quality affected by village pollution, and assisting families who did not receive government aid with house repairs.
Communities from the Caldas department attending a workshop to raise awareness of the population with safe evacuation routes and alerts from the Colombian Geological Service
Since 24 March 2023, the Nevado del Ruiz volcano in northwest Colombia has shown a significant increase in earthquake activity. The Colombian Geological Service raised the alert level from yellow to orange, signalling a risk of larger eruption than any in the past ten years. The government and hospital later issued a red alert, warning areas of a possible disaster.
Emergency kits provided to the community
Thanks to your ongoing support, we were able to provide our local partner with £25,000. This funding enabled them to assess the area, revealing that recent ash fall and the release of toxic gases had contaminated water sources. They also found that local communities lacked emergency kits and sufficient information about safe evacuation routes and what to do in the event of volcanic activity.
In response, a project was developed to support communities, with the local residents actively involved in the decision-making process. The initiative reached 370 families, providing them with emergency and first aid kits, enhancing coordination and collaboration between communities and local authorities, and raising public awareness through local media and workshops on safe evacuation routes. Additionally, hygiene training was organised to improve water quality and reduce the risk of illness from contaminated water.
As a result, the local people are now better prepared to respond to the risks they face and know how to work together to reach safety in the event of an eruption.
Photos by: Cáritas Colombiana
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