Makeshift shelters and tent cities housing thousands of people in disaster zones offer little protection. According to United Nations estimates, approximately 300,000 people were affected by the September 8 earthquake.

Life was difficult for Moroccan Christians before the record-setting quake. Learn why here. Now, believers face a unique set of challenges and opportunities.

Voice of the Martyrs Canada’s VP of International Ministry and Operations Riadh Jaballah says, “We are in touch with six of our brothers in Marrakech, […], and Casablanca. As far as we know, no Christian family has been badly affected [by the earthquake.]

“They ask for prayer from the Body of Christ during this difficult time.”

Bringing aid to the survivors isn’t easy. “The government is restricting any intervention from outside, or even from non-registrant associations inside Morocco,” Jaballah says.

Citizens and aid workers comb through debris in Imi N’Tala, Morocco.
(Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

Nevertheless, VOM Canada partners found a way to reach those in need.

“They have one inspection trip to assess the need and see how we can help [survivors] with relief, food packages, etc. It is done through the local civil association,” Jaballah says.

Morocco’s rules forbid Christian leaders from delivering aid in the name of Jesus, but today’s compassionate care could lead to Gospel conversations later. Pray that believers can connect with survivors who need to know God’s love.

“People ask, ‘Why you are here to help me?’ and God opens the door [for believers] to share, ‘God loves you, brother and sister, God takes care of you,’” Jaballah says.

“They never heard about this as Muslims; all the time, they put in their mind [that] God is far from them.”

Header photo depicts aid tents and shelters outside Tinmal village following the September 8 earthquake. (Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

Friday’s 6.8 magnitude earthquake near Marrakech, Morocco – the deadliest since 1960 and most potent tremor since 1900 – has killed more than 2,500 people and destroyed scores of historical sites. Aftershocks and damaged roads block efforts to find survivors and deliver aid.

The death toll from Friday’s historic earthquake soars as aid workers reach new territory in the epicenter. Rasheed*, a Moroccan pastor, says, “The statistic today is over 2,500 died, but I’m sure [it’s] more; I think more than 3,000 [or] 4,000 [people died.]”

Pastor Rasheed leads Tifaouin, a ministry based in Casablanca. Learn more here. “The office [is] in Casablanca, but we have team ministry in Marrakech and a church in old Medina,” he says.

“Many people are outside the houses [with no] food [or] blankets. People died under the houses.”

Most earthquake survivors are doing what they can to survive outside. Fearing aftershocks, they avoid remnant structures – even if it means braving the elements.

Over 20 Muslim-background believers living in or near Marrakech lost their homes and livelihoods.

“[On] Wednesday, [a team from Casablanca will] move to the Marrakech area [to start] working with that team and with the people affected, [bringing] food, blankets, medicine,” Pastor Rasheed says.

Please pray for local believers as they deliver help for today and hope for tomorrow.

*Name changed for security purposes

Header image courtesy of Pastor Rasheed/Tifaouin Ministry.