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A brutal 6.8 Richter magnitude earthquake rocked the North African nation of Morocco on September 8. The quake—which struck 45 miles south of Marrakech, near the towns of Ighil in the High Atlas range—killed nearly 3,000 people and injured twice that number. The earthquake was the strongest to hit Morocco in well over a century, and hundreds of aftershocks have followed in its wake. According to recent statistics from Morocco’s Interior Ministry, over 380,000 people were affected by the disaster.
Our partner organization, the adventure travel booking platform Outdoor Voyage, works with hundreds of local adventure operators in dozens of countries, including Morocco. We currently work with several veteran Moroccan operators, including the mountain bike and road cycling outfitter MTB Morocco, the vintage sidecar motorcycle operator Marrakech Insiders, and the adventure tour operator Sahara Magic.
Outdoor Voyage connected with all our Moroccan partners in the aftermath of the disaster, and luckily most were not directly affected.
MTB Morocco, however, was particularly impacted by the quakes, given their base of operations in the High Atlas and Marrakech. They have currently suspended all operations due to the disaster, and are using all materials and staff to support the affected areas in their surrounding community.
From MTB Morocco:
In the wake of the recent earthquake in the Atlas Mountains, the devastating impact cannot be overstated. Many homes have crumbled, leaving families displaced and vulnerable. Tragically, dear friends have been lost, and children are now left without the care and guidance of their parents. The scale of this disaster is heart-wrenching, and it underscores the urgency of our mission.
Our goal is not only to rebuild homes but also to provide a glimmer of hope to these orphaned children and shattered families. Your donation can make a profound difference by offering shelter, sustenance, and emotional support to those in dire need. Together, we can be a beacon of light in their darkest hour, helping them rebuild their lives and find solace amidst the rubble.
As adventurers, whether secondhand, from the armchair, or firsthand, on the ground, we have a duty to care for the outdoor destinations we explore. Interested readers are encouraged to support our partner MTB Morocco and their recovery efforts directly via PayPal, or donate to Moroccan earthquake relief via the Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP) using the link below. The CDP earned a 100% for Accountability & Finance, and a four-star rating overall, on Charity Navigator in 2022.
