UNICEF, in a statement on its website, has expressed its readiness to increase humanitarian support as needed to reach children and families affected by the earthquake in Morocco. The damage to schools, hospitals, and other essential facilities, caused by the earthquake, has had a significant impact on children.
According to the organization’s preliminary reports, approximately 100,000 children have been affected by the powerful earthquake that struck Morocco late on Friday night – the strongest seismic event in the kingdom since 1960. Like all major earthquakes, aftershocks are likely to continue in the coming days and weeks, exposing children and families to further risks.
The organization noted that, according to authorities, more than 2,600 people, including children, have been killed, and thousands more have been injured, with these numbers expected to rise. While UNICEF does not yet have precise numbers for child fatalities and injuries, the latest estimates from 2022 indicate that children make up about one-third of Morocco’s population. The destruction of thousands of homes has led to the displacement of families, exposing them to adverse weather conditions during the colder nights.
The report explained that the earthquake, with a magnitude of 6.8, struck shortly after 11 p.m. on September 8, a time when most children and families were asleep in their homes. The United Nations estimates that more than 300,000 people have been affected in Marrakech and the High Atlas Mountains.
In conclusion, UNICEF mentioned that it has been providing support to children in Morocco since 1957 and established an office in the country in 1978. The organization has already mobilized humanitarian assistance staff to support the immediate response on the ground led by the Moroccan government. In close coordination with authorities and UN partners, UNICEF is prepared to increase humanitarian support as needed to reach children and families affected by the earthquake with essential supplies and services.
