On Friday September 8, a 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck central Morocco just southwest of Marrakesh in the remote Atlas Mountains, causing widespread devastation. More than 2,500 people lost their lives, and many more were injured. Half a million people are now displaced.  

Two days later on 10 September, Hurricane Daniel left a devastating path across several north-eastern areas of Libya. Massive flooding affected cities, towns and villages, causing blocked roads and damage to infrastructure. Over 43,000 people have been displaced and 8000 are still missing   

Many thousands of people are affected in both Morocco and Libya. Many have lost loved ones, their homes and livelihoods. It will take many months, if not years, to recover from these disasters.  

How your support has helped 

Thanks for the generosity of hundreds of New Zealanders, we raised almost NZ$128,000 between our Morocco Earthquake Appeal and Libya Floods Appeal to help people in both countries affected by the disasters. 

Thank you to everyone who contributed. The Appeals closed on Monday 27 November. 

Your generosity enabled us to support communities most in need in both countries through the emergency response and into the recovery phase.  

Your contributions are allocated to the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) operations which support Morocco and Libyan Red Crescent teams on the ground to provide vital relief to communities in great need.  

In Libya, international aid has reached over 180,000 people. Libya Red Crescent provided drinking water, sanitation facilities and the rehabilitation or rebuilding of more resilient homes.  

Derna, Libya

In Morocco, Morocco Red Crescent provided immediate relief of food, water, shelter. Teams are providing support to communities including supporting rebuilding of safer and more sustainable homes and providing a cash programme.  

For more information  

Our International Delegate Programme  

Our international delegates are specialists. They provide important technical advice and work in times of crisis to fill gaps in knowledge and capacity already identified by the Red Cross Red Crescent international movement. International delegates drop everything they are doing to respond to a call to go somewhere when they are needed. 

Learn more about our work in the Pacific 

Donate to support

Our Morocco Earthquake and Libya Floods appeals are now closed but if this story has inspired you to support our work around the world and here in Aotearoa New Zealand, you can always  donate to our Where the Need is Greatest Fund.  

Donations to this fund support all our humanitarian work and help us respond to disasters and crises, wherever the need is greatest.  

Where the need is greatest  

Read more about the international Red Cross Red Crescent’s movement supporting communities following the Libya Floods and Morocco Earthquakes 

One month after Libya floods: Urgent mental health support needed | IFRC 

One month after Morocco earthquake: A race against winter for affected families | IFRC 

 

Header caption: Red Cross Red Crescent bringing emergency shelter into the Atlas Mountains