Morocco Earthquake and Libya Floods: A TBF Giving Guide
Resources for a philanthropic response to two global disasters
September 19, 2023
Earthquake in Morocco – September 2023
On September 8, 2023, a powerful 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck Morocco, killing more than 3,000 people, and injuring many more. It caused widespread damage in the city of Marrakech and brought untold devastation to several small villages in the Atlas Mountains. While news outlets report that international aid is being restricted for the moment, the organizations below do report being on the ground, and deploying humanitarian aid already in the country. Please consider supporting any of the following organizations:
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies - Moroccan Red Crescent. They are working to meet the immediate humanitarian needs of affected people (providing first aid and psychosocial support, helping transport the injured to hospitals, evacuating people from damaged buildings and providing dignified burial management), while also planning for longer-term recovery.
Earthquake Response
Donation Website
Global Giving. This organization works with local nonprofit agencies. All donations to this fund will support Morocco earthquake relief and recovery efforts. Initially, the fund will help meet survivors' immediate needs for food, fuel, clean water, medicine, and shelter. The fund will then transition to focus on recovery efforts led by local, vetted organizations in the impacted areas to restore damaged homes, rebuild infrastructure, and more as needs evolve.
Earthquake Response
Donation Website
Doctors Without Borders (MFS). Teams on the ground are making an assessment to see where the needs are and how they can help the Moroccan authorities with their response. They are meeting different hospital directors to see if there are needs in terms of human resources or pharmacy supplies or logistical needs. They plan to deploy their support in the coming days.
Earthquake Response
Donation Website
CARE. This organization has been in Morocco since 2008 increasing access to basic services for the most vulnerable. Their Morocco Earthquake Emergency Fund will prioritize women and girls, youth, and disadvantaged groups by providing emergency water, food, shelter, and medical support.
Islamic Relief USA. Islamic Relief staff are in Morocco assessing the most critical needs and identifying local humanitarian organizations to work with to deliver vital aid. Food, shelter, and healthcare are expected to be the most urgent needs.
Earthquake Response
Donation Website
UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) is providing emergency support for families that were impacted by the earthquake and is in communication with authorities.
Libya Floods – September 2023
On September 10, 2023, a powerful Mediterranean cyclone made landfall in Libya, bringing intense rainfall to the eastern region, particularly the city of Derna. Two dams burst, sweeping away entire neighborhoods. At least 10,000 people have died and close to 40,000 people have been internally displaced. Entire communities have been cut off from food, water, shelter, health services and communications. The following organizations are already on the ground, providing a wide array of services. We invite you to support their relief efforts in Libya.
CARE works around the globe to save lives, defeat poverty and achieve social justice. CARE is one of the few aid organizations in Libya and is preparing emergency relief measures in collaboration with local partner organizations. It launched the Libya Flood Emergency Fund.
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) started working in Libya in 2011 providing assistance to people affected by the conflict. MSF’s priority is to coordinate with the Libyan Red Crescent and to donate more than 200 medical kits and mortuary bags. Afterwards, the teams will assess the medical needs of hospitals and health centers, so they can launch operations very soon.
Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) aims to deliver the most amount of aid, to the most amount of people in need, in the shortest amount of time and with the least amount of costs to donors. GEM’s teams are being deploying in Libya, and currently they are loading a military ship in Izmir (Turkey) with vital supplies set to arrive soon at Derna.
Response Website
Donation Website
Global Giving works to support and connect nonprofits with donors and companies. They set up the Libya Flood Relief Fund to support flood relief and recovery efforts in Libya. Initially, the fund will help meet survivors' immediate needs for food, fuel, clean water, medicine, and shelter. The fund will then transition to focus on recovery efforts led by local, vetted organizations in the impacted areas to restore damaged homes, rebuild infrastructure, and more as needs evolve.
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). Made up of National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, this organization works to save lives, build community resilience, strengthen localization and promote dignity around the world. The Libyan Red Crescent teams and volunteers were first on the ground, evacuating people and providing first aid and search and rescue efforts. Currently, the IFRC is supporting the Libyan Red Crescent to provide emergency shelter, psychosocial support, healthcare, clean water and food to affected communities and restore family links with missing loved ones.
Response Website
Donation Website
International Medical Corps delivers emergency medical and related services to those affected by conflict, disaster and disease. This organization already sent a response team to the region to conduct assessments and provide humanitarian aid. Currently, they are working with the government and local health facilities to coordinate efforts, to provide medical supplies and equipment to help families affected by the floods, and to deploy their EMT facility to the region if requested.
Response Website
Donation Website
International Rescue Committee helps people affected by humanitarian crises -including the climate crisis- to survive, recover and rebuild their lives. The IRC is preparing a response and is committed to working with local partners and the Libyan authorities to provide immediate assistance to those affected by this disaster. Aid would target the following key areas: Health Services, Protection Services for survivors, and Basic households items.
Response Website
Donation Website
Islamic Relief provides relief and development, and works to empower individuals in their communities and give them a voice in the world. This organization launched an emergency response and is working with local partners to provide emergency relief including food and essential non-food items, such as blankets and mattresses.
UNICEF. One of the United Nations agencies, UNICEF is responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children worldwide. UNICEF is engaged in the humanitarian response in Derna and most other affected areas, working in close coordination with the authorities and the UN country team. The priority is to scale up life-saving assistance, in particular providing health and water and sanitation supplies, psychosocial support, family tracing and preventing water borne diseases.