MOROCCO – MedGlobal is working to provide critical emergency response services in the wake of a 6.8 magnitude earthquake that hit the Al Haouz province in the Kingdom of Morocco.
Other than Marrakech, the tremor was felt in Rabat, Casablanca, Agadir, and Essaouira, according to the latest official report by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
More than 3,000 people were killed in the earthquake, destroying entire towns and injuring nearly 5,500 people, and leaving hundreds of thousands displaced people.
The unprecedented earthquake in Morocco is causing extensive damage, especially in mountain villages, which has left the population entirely destitute and homeless.
Following the unprecedented earthquake in Morocco, a catastrophic flood struck the eastern coast of Libya.
The catastrophic storm floods have killed at least 11,300 people and nearly 10,100 people are still missing after being sucked into the Mediterranean Sea.
In a press statement, Dr. Zaher Sahloul, the President of MedGlobal, said: “There is no doubt in my mind that this disaster in Libya is linked to climate change and the lack of readiness in many countries to the new normal regarding infrastructure and disaster response.”
The flood resulted from the heavy rains from Storm Daniel, causing two dams in the region to collapse, flooding the city of Derna, a city of 150,000.
For this reason, MedGlobal is supporting the emergency response efforts for earthquake survivors in Morocco and Libyan flood victims.
MedGlobal’s response addresses all aspects of the aftermath of these disasters by providing much-needed medical supplies and medications to people affected by the quake and floods.
The Illinois-based organization is also mobilizing culturally sensitive teams of healthcare professionals, and strengthening the healthcare system in partnership with local health authorities.
“Our hearts and thoughts are with the people of Morocco and Libya as well as the victims’ families. Our main goal is to extend a hand of healing and complement the work being done by the local healthcare providers,” stated Dr. Zaher Sahloul.
MedGlobal is a humanitarian charitable non-governmental organization that provides emergency response and sustainable health programs to build resilience among vulnerable communities around the world.
Headquartered in the United States, the humanitarian organization supports resilient health systems in partnership with communities in disaster regions and low-income countries.
MedGlobal delivers health programs to support victims of wars and disasters, refugees, internally displaced persons, and marginalized communities in disaster-affected and low-resource settings.
Notably, MedGlobal has multiple ongoing and past healthcare programs to improve access to healthcare in the Middle East and North Africa region including war-torn Sudan, Tunisia, Yemen, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, and Palestine.
The medical humanitarian organization is mobilizing to boost emergency response activities by the local communities in both Morocco and Libya.
On his part, Dr. Zaher Sahloul, asserted: “MedGlobal has an extensive record of providing emergency medical response to natural and man-made disasters, and a long history of delivering culturally sensitive medical relief and sustainable healthcare programs in the MENA region.”
The immediate impacts of the Unprecedented Earthquake in Morocco and Floods in Libya are deaths, injuries, fractures, shock, wounds, and mental health trauma.
Nevertheless, as the huge earthquake that hit Turkey and North Syria in February 2023 has demonstrated, these two disasters will have a potential material impact for many weeks to come.
The two disasters are projected to deprive patients with non-communicable diseases, children, and pregnant women of access to healthcare and medications, interrupt the supply chain, and disrupt the already strained healthcare system.
In spite of the recent earthquake, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the Moroccan Government announced that the annual meetings of the two global institutions will be held in Marrakech in October 2023.
For all the latest healthcare industry news from Africa and the World, subscribe to our NEWSLETTER, and YouTube Channel, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn, and like us on Facebook.