Moroccans in B.C. to gather following devastating earthquake, calling on Canada to send aid

A gathering will be held at the Vancouver Art Gallery Sunday evening to show solidarity with victims of the recent devastating earthquake that struck Morocco and killed thousands.

Morocco House Association B.C. is hosting the event, beginning at 6 p.m., for anyone looking to show support.

Nadia Ouazzani, the group’s director, says the number of Moroccans in the province has grown over the past few years. She says the event will be an opportunity for those seeking support to come together.

“We’re all devastated, we’re sad, we’re trying to support each other,” Ouazzani said. “We’re far from the country, so there’s not much we can do.”

The 6.8 magnitude earthquake rattled the country with a force that hasn’t been felt in the North African country for 120 years. Its epicentre was about 70 kilometres southwest of Marrakech, the country’s fourth largest city. More than 2,000 people have now been reported killed by the earthquake, and the death toll is expected to rise.

Those gathering in Vancouver Sunday evening hope to show Canadian governments that their support is needed in Morocco, Ouazzani says. She says she’s seen many other countries step up to offer support for her country, but Canada has yet to make a similar move.

The event will feature a moment of silence and the recitation of a verse from the Quran.

Related Articles:

• ‘We could hear screaming and crying:’ Canadians in Morocco describe earthquake

• Former Vancouver resident living in Morocco looks to help earthquake victims

Ouazzani says many Moroccans in B.C. have been affected by the earthquake and are currently trying to cope with the loss from afar.

“Just yesterday, I’ve been talking to a lot of people here in B.C. and asking them how they feel and about their families, and sadly, I had to talk to a lady who lost uncles and aunts, and her grandma is seriously injured at the hospital,” Ouazzani said. “And there are more, there are others.”

But even those who haven’t suffered a direct loss are feeling the effects of the quake, Ouazzani said.

“We are here, as Moroccans, and we feel that person who died is also our close relative,” she said. “We support each other even if we don’t have anyone affected.”

Aside from gathering as a community, Ouazzani says starting tomorrow, her organization will also be sharing a bank account number that people can donate to, to support people on the ground in Morocco.

The account is being opened by the country’s government and king on Monday morning in Morocco, so Ouazzani says her organization will be helping spread the word for anyone who would like to support the cause.

As recovery efforts continue, Ouazzani says she’s worried about how the death toll will grow when search and rescue teams reach some of the smaller, more remote villages.

“The fear is once we reach there, we might double the number,” she said. “Those small villages are up the mountain so the infrastructure is weak, so how we are getting there and how fast we are getting there is the issue right now.”

Related Video:

Ouazzani says earthquakes this powerful are not common in Morocco and many of the roads leading to these villages are not easy to navigate.

“Those small villages are not built strong enough to resist the earthquake, so that’s why you can see some areas are completely flat,” she said. “That’s what makes things difficult, it’s not in the city, it’s up the mountain.”

With snow expected to begin falling as soon as the temperatures drop, Ouazzani says she’s confident Morocco is strong enough to recover before the weather turns on them.

“Morocco, with our king, our government and our people everywhere in the world, we will help, we will get it done,” she said. “The only worry is we want it to be as fast as we can. As soon as we can.”

-With files from Angela Bower