- Muslims worldwide are raising funds and donating relief items to help Morocco after a powerful earthquake killed over 2100 people.
- The Windsor Muslim community has raised $11,720 towards an overall goal of $100,000 to help Moroccans.
- A fundraiser in Amsterdam was a great success, and the organization has imposed a temporary donation moratorium due to the constant stream of donated materials.
Days after a powerful earthquake rocked Morocco, killing thousands, Muslims worldwide are stepping up efforts to share solidarity with the victims and their families.
As the news of the devastating quake broke, the Windsor Muslim community started an online fundraiser to help.
📚 Read Also: Muslim Charities Rush to Help Morocco after Devastating Quake
“Just on a human level, it’s devastating… It’s just layers and layers of devastation,” said Widad Mezahi, communications coordinator with the Windsor Islamic Association, Windsor CTV News reported.
They have already raised $11,720 towards an overall goal of $100,000 to help with the immediate needs of Moroccans.
Though Windsor’s Moroccan community isn’t as large as those who hail from Turkey or Syria, people rushed to help their fellow Muslims.
“We raised $500,000, and we also had a drop-off center where people donated clothing and tents, books, anything that they really wanted to,” Mezahi said.
“That was sent over to Turkey and Syria, and we were able to get footage on the ground from charity workers showing the donations going to people who were affected.
Detroit Muslims
Thousands of miles away in Michigan, the Islamic Center of Detroit is encouraging others to support rescue and recovery efforts following the earthquake in Morocco.
The Islamic center is cooperating with Islamic Relief USA which has set up a nationwide fundraising campaign to help the Moroccan people, Click On Detroit reported.
“Morocco is one of the Muslim countries, and it’s part of our religion to be supportive when our brothers and sisters are having a bad situation,” an IR USA worker in Detroit said.
“Invite everyone to have their social responsibility and raise funds for Muslims and others in Morocco.”
Islamic Relief has also launched a £10 million appeal to assist the people of Morocco.
Non-stop Donations
In Amsterdam, a fundraiser for earthquake victims in Morocco was a great success, so the organization has imposed a temporary donation moratorium.
Standing in her tidy shop in Osdorp, bridal designer Siham can hardly find an empty area on the floor covered in bags filled with clothes, shampoo bottles, toys, and other relief items for Moroccan earthquake victims, Aviation Analysis reported.
Siham and the other volunteers can’t handle the constant stream of donated materials. “We’ve also put a hold on donations,” she says, trying to fit a thick winter coat into the trash bag. “Now we are focusing on triage. And then they won’t have to do that in Morocco.”
Huda al-Wakili who lives near Seham’s store heard about the group from a relative. She is one of the volunteers working on sorting donated items.
“Now we mainly think of diapers, blankets, pillows, and mattresses. We have enough clothes,” she said.
A powerful earthquake hit Morocco on September 8, killing more than 2100 people so far. Several Islamic charities, such as Muslim Hands, Islamic Relief, Penny Appeal, and Muslim Aid have already issued appeals for donations.