Morocco Earthquake Update
On Christ the solid rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.
- Edward Mote, 1836
Morocco
ARDF is so thankful for local connections which allow us to send relief aid to difficult or remote places. One such place is Morocco, still reeling from a deadly earthquake that struck on September 8, 2023. The quake was reported to be as high as a 7.2 magnitude according to local authorities, with aftershocks registering as high as 4.8. Villages and towns near the base of the Atlas mountains were hit the hardest, while also tearing through the popular tourist city of Marrakech.
ARDF initially sent funding to Morocco through connections in the Anglican church, specifically through an organization called Ekklesia We are so thankful for this connection! In addition, one Christian NGO that ARDF partnered with for earthquake relief in Syria is now sending teams to Morocco to help. They are using the experience they gained through their response to the Syria/Turkey earthquakes to provide much needed expertise and support to survivors in Morocco.
ARDF recently received one update from local Christians, seeking out and serving survivors of the natural disaster. We share this as an example of the type of work being done, and to give specific ways to pray for the ongoing work of the church among survivors in Morocco.
As the church mobilized a team to help in the field, many others who couldn’t join were supporting us with prayers. The relief trips and stories reported below wouldn't have been made possible without your constant prayers, support, and collaboration towards the populations affected by this tragedy. Each day, we sought the guidance and strength of the Holy Spirit as we meticulously planned and strategized for every journey to reach out to the incredibly remote villages in the high Atlas Mountains.
The church journeyed to several remote villages, offering food, supplies, physical labor, and games for children. They also recognized the need to provide emotional and spiritual support after such a tragedy. Some of their visits are described below.
The next day brought us to Azgour village and discovered the sobering reality of three deaths. We met . . . three families living on the precarious edge of a mountain. [They] were fortunate to have survived the earthquake, as their houses crumbled around them. The main door was blocked, and they were able to survive after fleeing in the dark from a tiny opening made in the wall by the window side.
In a neighboring village called Anougal behind a mountain, we were told that there were even more tragic situations, with over 200 lives lost. [This] was the next targeted destination. This next journey took us through another circuit in the high Atlas Mountains. However, it was the visit to Imi Ntalla that left a profound impact on us. In this village, all the inhabitants were living in tents, their homes reduced to rubble, and the pervasive odor of death hung heavily in the air.
They share at the end of their report how critical these trips are in assessing the needs on the ground and how important long term support and recovery will be. ARDF has seen how, time and time again, the local church is in the best position to minister to those affected by natural disasters because the local church ministers to the community long term, offering not only needed physical support but also spiritual and sacramental presence in the midst of suffering. This Gospel hope is what helps a community truly lament, instead of watching suffering turn to despair.
Pray for the ongoing efforts of volunteers searching for those missing, clearing rubble, and setting up temporary living structures.
Pray for communities lacking adequate shelter as winter approaches.
Pray for those who have lost loved ones.
Pray for emotional and spiritual support for survivors, and Christ’s wisdom and compassion for those who minister to this need.
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