The deadly earthquake which struck Morocco during the night from Friday to Saturday, killing more than 2,000 people according to a provisional toll, provoked an impressive outpouring of international solidarity. Support has multiplied, both from States and public figures. The associations have put themselves in battle order to come to the aid of the Moroccan people. Calls for donations poured in on social networks and in the media.
The French Secours populaire announced in a press release that it was releasing 50,000 euros from its “emergency fund” to “come to the aid of children and families who have lost everything”. Beyond the emergency, “support for the most fragile people” will necessarily be “long-term”, underlines the association, which “launches an urgent appeal for solidarity and financial support for the victims of this disaster”.
The Franco-Moroccan actor and comedian Gad Elmaleh joined the Secours populaire appeal for donations. “Today I encourage people who are confused, who cry in front of their TV and don’t know what to do, I tell them that every cent counts,” the Casablanca-born actor told BFMTV. “There are those who are shocked, we must help these people who are alive to get back to life. This is where this surge of solidarity makes sense and that is why I am speaking out to motivate and unite around this call for donations, ”he continued.
The Fondation de France, “present for several years” in Morocco, announced for its part that it would immediately mobilize 250,000 euros. She also launched a call for donations to “strengthen” her actions, including shelter or psychological support for victims.
The Foundation “will intervene in the most impacted areas, particularly in isolated areas where aid is more difficult to arrive and populations are more left to their own devices,” she said. “It will subsequently carry out sustainable reconstruction actions” such as the “rehabilitation of collective buildings” or economic recovery.
The Geneva-based International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has released one million Swiss francs ($1.1 million) from its Emergency Disaster Response Fund to support the work of the Moroccan Red Crescent in the field. The International Red Cross, which opened a donation platform, warned on Saturday of the importance of Morocco’s future needs, with “24 to 48 critical hours” and needs for “months or even years”.
Gad Elmaleh called for the organization of “a gala or (a) show” to raise funds. The comedian has been heard since a charity concert is organized at the Dôme de Paris next Wednesday in partnership with the Red Cross and for the benefit of the Moroccan Red Crescent. No details have yet been communicated on the programming of the event, which will begin at 9:10 p.m. and will be broadcast live on M6.
Other organizations have organized donation campaigns, such as the American NGO GlobalGiving or UNICEF. As a reminder, in France, a donation gives access to a tax reduction of 75% of its amount up to 1000 euros. Beyond that, the reduction is 66% within the limit of 20% of his taxable income.
