One year after the devastating earthquake that killed nearly 3,000 people and destroyed entire villages in Morocco, tens of thousands are still grappling with the aftermath. Around 380,000 people were affected, and over 300,000 survivors remain in temporary shelters or tents, waiting for permanent homes.
In these challenging circumstances, women like Samira (pictured above) have become vital leaders in their communities. Samira is the director of Tamghart Noudrar (The Woman of the Mountain), an ActionAid partner and a local women-led organization based in Imilil, Morocco. Like other community leaders, she received training on how to deliver aid, facilitate workshops, and help communities regain their footing in the aftermath of disaster. Her work supporting women in rural areas became even more crucial after the earthquake. Despite losing her own home, Samira continues to visit isolated communities, often accessible only by dirt roads, to offer support and coordinate relief efforts.
She shared with us:
“We’re doing something for the community, so despite the problems, we always resist, and every year, we prove that we can achieve quite a lot. It’s a lot of work, but it’s necessary because it’s a responsibility.”
For many women and girls, those hit hardest by the disaster, the quake brought about even greater hardship. For example, healthcare, once readily available after the earthquake, remains difficult to access in remote areas. Through ActionAid’s continued and coordinated efforts on the ground, however, Samira and other women leaders are helping to bridge this gap by supporting women and girls with essential services and psychological support in some of the worst-hit areas, establishing safe spaces where they can gather, learn about their rights, and access life-saving resources. Samira has been key in encouraging women to participate in these spaces.
Thanks to your support, Samira’s story is one of resilience, not just for herself but for the countless women she inspires and supports every day. One year later, even as global attention has shifted, we remain committed to supporting earthquake survivors in Morocco. Together, these courageous leaders are rebuilding their homes and livelihoods and restoring hope, strength, and dignity to their communities.