FRIENDS and families in the Moroccan community in Trowbridge have begun collecting items to send to the emergency appeals following Friday’s earthquake in Morocco.
It is estimated that more than 2,800 people have died following a 6.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Morocco on Friday, September 8 at 11pm local time.
The epicentre was in the High Atlas Mountains, approximately 70 kilometres south of Marrakesh. A 4.9 magnitude aftershock followed just 20 minutes later.
The leaders of the Moroccan community in Trowbridge have already made a start in their efforts to help support the earthquake victims.
They plan to collect much-needed items at the Trowbridge Mosque in Longfield Road ready to ship to Morocco. Many items are expected to come in after the Friday prayer meeting.
Trowbridge mayor, Cllr Stephen Cooper, said: “The full extent of the devastation following the recent earthquake in Morocco is only now starting to emerge but many of the more remote villages have yet to be reached and the known death toll is still rising almost hourly.
“Here in Trowbridge, we have one of the largest Moroccan communities in the country outside of London, with more than 1,000 living locally.
"We have strong ties with the Kingdom of Morrocco, we were the first town in the United Kingdom to sign a Twinning Charter with a community in an Islamic nation.
“I have just spoken to one of the leaders of the Moroccan community here in Trowbridge about local efforts being made to offer help and relief to the victims of Friday’s earthquake.
“Donations, particularly of sanitary products, blankets and tents are urgently needed and are being collected ready for shipping out to the affected region at the Mosque on Longfield Road in Trowbridge.
“A crowdfunding page has been set up for cash donations to fund the sending of aid from Trowbridge.
“Please do help if you can. We have very strong links with Morocco here in Trowbridge and we will no doubt have residents who are directly affected by this horrific disaster.”
Cllr Cooper welcomed Mr Abdennabi Biioui, President of the Oriental Region of Morocco, to Trowbridge in May. The town is twinned with Oujda in Morocco.
In addition, Mr Alae-Eddine Barkaoui, Vice President of the Oriental Council and Miss Assya Bouali, personal advisor of Mr Biioui, visited Trowbridge to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III.
“As Mayor of Trowbridge, I was honoured to attend Morocco’s Coronation Day anniversary celebrations in London just a few short weeks ago.
“The Moroccan people are our friends. Many of them are our neighbours here in Trowbridge so it is important that we don’t just express our horror and sympathy at what has happened in their country and that we do what we can to actually help.”
Following the earthquake, the British Red Cross and the Islamic Relief charities have both launched emergency appeals to help support people affected.
Local authorities are now reporting that over 2,800 people have died in Morocco, with many more critically injured. The total number of people affected is in the hundreds of thousands.
Many of the worst affected areas are remote and mountainous, making them harder to reach.
These numbers are likely to rise rapidly in the coming days as the full impact of the disaster becomes clearer.
To support the emergency appeal, please click here. It has already raised £245 towards its £1,000 target.
To donate to the Trowbridge Islamic Trust's appeal, click here.
To donate to the British Red Cross appeal, click here.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here