Description of the crisis

On 8 September 2023 at 2300 local time a 6.8-magnitude earthquake shook Morocco. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the quake originated at a depth of 18.5km with the epicenter in the High Atlas Mountains, located 71km southwest of Marrakesh, a major economic centre. The earthquake was felt as far away as Portugal and Algeria, according to the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere, and Algeria’s civil defense agency. A 4.9- magnitude aftershock then hit 19 minutes later. Damage to homes and essential infrastructure was extensive across the affected areas, underscoring the urgent need for emergency shelter support for affected individuals. Fearing more tremors, many survivors of the first two days sheltered in the streets for safety, while damaged roads, the continued risk of landslides, and the large distances involved complicated rescue and relief efforts. Remote villages high in the Atlas Mountains, near the earthquake's epicenter, suffered substantial damage. The Moroccan search and rescue teams, with the support of teams from Spain, Britain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates stepped up a massive effort to bring relief to devastated mountain villages. This earthquake was the deadliest in Morocco since 2004. According to the national authorities, 2,946 people died while the amount of injured reached 5,6741 . It is estimated that 59,674 houses were destroyed or damaged