Morocco’s Al-Haouz Earthquake: 1 year on

Fatima was sleeping when the earthquake struck.

“My daughter came and woke me up, terrified and panicked. I didn’t understand what had happened.”

“I tried to calm her down, but she was extremely frightened and ran away. Then I noticed the ceiling of the room collapsing, and the wall next to me falling until I was trapped under the rubble.”

On the night of 8 September 2023, a massive 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck central Morocco, killing families in their beds and flattening whole villages.

It was the most powerful earthquake to ever hit Morocco.

Close to 3,000 people lost their lives, while thousands more were injured.

Fatima was living in the south-western province of Al-Haouz, where the epicentre of the earthquake hit. Its impact would change her life.

“When I regained consciousness, I removed some of the rubble I was trapped under. I was screaming in pain until I freed my legs and my clothes that were caught under the debris.”

“People outside the house were screaming and calling for me. I opened the door and went out, asking them to save my daughter – only her fingers were visible under the rubble and dust. Thankfully, they managed to rescue her. We escaped barefoot and naked until one of my sons brought us something to cover ourselves with in the morning.”

Fatima’s house was completely destroyed by the earthquake, and she and her daughter became 2 of the 500,000 people displaced by the disaster.

Fatima and her daughter received donations of food and other important survival items, such as winter clothing, from Islamic Relief

Severe aftershocks

The tremors that followed the earthquake were huge, causing massive amounts of damage to the surrounding regions and being felt all across the country.

The earthquake and aftershocks destroyed close to 19,000 homes, with another 60,000 sustaining heavy damage.

In villages, towns and cities across the region, terrified and traumatised families spent nights sleeping out in the open, too afraid to seek shelter. In the High Atlas Mountains, isolated communities faced an agonising wait for help.

“Our home collapsed,” says Hamid, describing the moment the earthquake destroyed his village, Douar As-Salam.

“Some among us were fortunate to be rescued from beneath the rubble. The aftermath has been nothing short of devastating, with all our possessions irreparably damaged. The unforgiving cold now chills our makeshift tents, adding another layer of hardship. They have torn, and I have sewn them back together.”

After the earthquake destroyed Hamid’s house, he was forced to live in makeshift tents that he repaired himself

From the first day of the disaster Islamic Relief was a lifeline to affected communities.

We reached thousands of survivors with vital humanitarian aid. People like Hamid who had lost everything in the earthquake received essential survival items such as warm clothing and hygiene kits.

An immediate response

Within hours of the disaster, Islamic Relief launched a £10 million appeal to assist survivors.

Working with local partners Al Mobadara Association and At Tawassol, we distributed desperately needed items including mattresses, blankets, and warm clothing to help people exposed to the harsh winter weather.

Food, water and thousands of hygiene kits were also distributed to help combat the rise of waterborne diseases.

“The humanitarian needs here in Morocco were enormous in the wake of the earthquake. We faced great challenges [delivering aid] due to the destruction of important infrastructure and roads, which made it difficult to reach mountainous communities.” Ghassen Alimi, Islamic Relief’s Head of Mission in Morocco says.

Ghassen Alimi, Islamic Relief’s Head of Mission in Morocco, greets children receiving support from Islamic Relief

To date, we have completed 10 humanitarian projects, reaching nearly 65,000 people across more than 120 villages with vital, life-saving aid.

Long term support

One year on from the Al Haouz earthquake, the people of Morocco are still piecing their lives back together.

The reconstruction programme is costly and Morocco’s susceptibility to natural disasters means there is a strong need to increase investment in building community resilience.

Islamic Relief is continuing to help those affected to meet their most immediate basic needs, while also providing longer-term interventions that are needed to help improve and rebuild lives going forward.

These include providing essential medical services and health education in affected communities, through the launch of 27 health caravans and the installation of latrines and showers, particularly in remote areas.

So far, we have conducted 11 health caravans, helping over 3,400 people.

Working alongside local partners, Islamic Relief is continuing to support the people of Morocco as they recover from this disaster. Although we originally deployed a mission in response to the earthquake, we found that our presence and intervention is needed in other vulnerable areas across the country, not just earthquake stricken regions.

You can find out more about our work by reading the Morocco’s Al Haouz earthquake: One Year On report.

Please help us to continue our vital work supporting those in desperate need of aid in Morocco and around the world where disasters strike, donate now

new director

Director of Network and Resource Development

Adnan joined Islamic Relief in 2004 as a regional fundraiser in the UK. He worked in multiple roles over 10 years at Islamic Relief UK, including setting up the first digital team and leading the growth of digital fundraising and engagement. Adnan also led numerous fundraising and marketing campaigns, which played a significant part in the growth of Islamic Relief UK.

Having moved to Islamic Relief Worldwide in 2014, Adnan has held different roles that have helped grow Islamic Relief’s global digital footprint into new geographic territories, supporting Islamic Relief members with their digital and marketing growth as well as developing new products and initiatives for the Islamic Relief family.

Adnan graduated in Industrial Design and Technology from Loughborough University. He has since completed an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration from Durham University and a Diploma in Digital Marketing from the Institute of Data and Marketing.

Nadeem Azhar

General Counsel

Nadeem joined Islamic Relief Worldwide in September 2022. He has worked in the charitable sector for over a decade.

He studied Modern History and Politics at Manchester University, and at the University of Law in London before qualifying as a solicitor in 2011.

Nadeem is an experienced corporate, commercial and governance lawyer, having worked with various faith-based and grant making charities as well those in health and education settings. He was a partner at a law firm in London before moving in-house where he focused on setting up and restructuring charities and social enterprises.

Most recently, Nadeem was Lead Counsel at Mind, a leading mental health charity, where he co-authored a new federation agreement, revamped legal processes, and played a major role in developing its strategic and fundraising partnerships.

Nadeem has been a charity trustee for the Seafarers Charity, as well as many grant-making bodies and theatre companies.

Adnan Hafiz

Director of Network and Resource Development

Adnan joined Islamic Relief in 2004 as a regional fundraiser in the UK. He worked in multiple roles over 10 years at Islamic Relief UK, including setting up the first digital team and leading the growth of digital fundraising and engagement. Adnan also led numerous fundraising and marketing campaigns, which played a significant part in the growth of Islamic Relief UK.

Having moved to Islamic Relief Worldwide in 2014, Adnan has held different roles that have helped grow Islamic Relief’s global digital footprint into new geographic territories, supporting Islamic Relief members with their digital and marketing growth as well as developing new products and initiatives for the Islamic Relief family.

Adnan graduated in Industrial Design and Technology from Loughborough University. He has since completed an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration from Durham University and a Diploma in Digital Marketing from the Institute of Data and Marketing.

Board of Directors
Javed Akhtar

Director of Finance

Javed Akhtar has more than a decade of experience at Islamic Relief, having worked in a similar role between 2003-2014. In that role he strove to implement wide-ranging financial and accounting processes which aided in the transparent nature in which Islamic Relief now operates.

Javed also has diverse experience across the private sector, having worked at American chemicals and pharmaceutical giant DuPont, shipping firm FedEX and technology consultancy company Accenture. In all his roles, he prioritises using the latest technologies to improve monitoring and reporting at every level. Javed’s commitment to embracing digital end-to-end technology, enhancing accountability to our stakeholders and promoting financial transparency is ensuring that we remain at the forefront of financial developments in the sector.

By training, Javed is a chartered accountant with a Master’s degree in NGO Management with Charity Accounting and Financial Management from Cass Business School.
Board of Directors
Affan Cheema  

Director of International Programmes

Affan Cheema is an experienced leader who has spent 25 years working in the international aid sector on poverty eradication in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. He has worked in fast onset emergencies, protracted crisis and development environments whilst working for Islamic Relief Worldwide and Care International. He is also a trustee of South West International Development Network (SWIDN).

Through his career Affan has held numerous roles including institutional fundraising, programme and grant management, and programme quality assurance.  Affan’s leadership has helped Islamic Relief Worldwide secure the highly coveted Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS), seen as the sector’s premier benchmark for operational excellence.

Affan completed his BA in Economics and Geography from University of London (School of Oriental and African Studies) and his MSc in Development Administration and Planning from the University of Bristol. He is PRINCE2 qualified, is a keen sportsman and recently co-edited a book entitled -Islam and International Development: Insights for working with Muslim Communities-.
Board of Directors
Dr Hossam Said

Managing Director, Humanitarian Academy for Development (HAD)

For nearly three decades Dr Hossam has provided the strategic vision to manage, lead and develop a range of international humanitarian interventions around the world.

At the start of his career, Dr Hossam served on the Board of Directors of the Egyptian Medical Syndicate, before moving to Islamic Relief Worldwide to manage the core global business activities as International Programmes Director.

During this time the organisation increased its global reach, gaining both domestic and international repute and credibility. Dr Hossam has also served on the Islamic Relief Worldwide Board of Management and Executive Committee for the past 15 years; sharing responsibility for strategic organisational development and the change management process, whilst forging strong relationships with many other charities.

Dr Hossam gained an MBA from Aston Business School in 2004 and graduated as a Medical Doctor from Cairo University in 1981.
Board of Directors
Martin Cottingham  

Director of External Relations and Advocacy

Martin Cottingham joined Islamic Relief in 2012 as IRUK Media Relations Manager, and was appointed Head of Communications in 2015 before taking up his current position as Director of External Relations and Advocacy for Islamic Relief Worldwide.

Martin has helped Islamic Relief to increase its mainstream media profile and expand its campaigning work, producing hard-hitting advocacy reports on floods in Pakistan (2011) famine in Somalia (2012) disaster risk reduction (2013) and aid to Afghanistan (2014). He has over 20 years’ experience working in media, communications and marketing roles for international development and environmental charities.

Martin graduated from the University of London with a degree in English and Drama (1982-85) then trained as a journalist with a postgraduate diploma at City University (1986-87). He has previously worked for Christian Aid as Editor of Christian Aid News and Media Relations Manager (1988-97) for Oxfam as Regional Campaigns Manager (1997-2000) and at the Soil Association as Marketing Director (2001-2006), as well as working for a wide range of organisations as a freelance writer, researcher and communications consultant.

Tufail Hussain

Director of Islamic Relief UK

Tufail Hussain has 17 years’ experience in the humanitarian and development sector, leading on marketing and fundraising campaigns for several organisations before joining Islamic Relief UK in 2016 as Deputy Director. Tufail was appointed Director of Islamic Relief UK in 2019 and in 2021 provided valuable leadership as interim CEO of Islamic Relief Worldwide.

Tufail is driven by a passion for empowering disadvantaged youth and mentors a number of young people. He also works to strengthen engagement between British Muslims and wider society. Under his leadership, Islamic Relief UK has significantly increased its income and developed successful partnerships with communities across the country. He has travelled around the world to raise awareness of major emergencies such as the Syria, Yemen and Afghanistan crises and the floods in Pakistan and Sudan.

A father to 5 daughters and a son, Tufail is also a sports enthusiast and passionate Liverpool FC supporter. Tufail has run the London Marathon twice, raising over £35,000 for humanitarian causes.

Before joining Islamic Relief he was CEO of Orphans in Need, where he oversaw a new strategy that increased income from £2 million to £9 million in 3 years and opened up new UK and international offices. Tufail is also a trustee of the Muslim Charities Forum and a Director of TIC International (Islamic Relief Worldwide’s clothes recycling and trading arm).
Waseem Ahmad

Chief Executive Officer

Waseem Ahmad joined the Islamic Relief family over 24 years ago, serving as Programme Officer in the Balochistan province of south-western Pakistan before becoming Head of Programmes in Pakistan. Waseem then moved to Oxfam and Tearfund before returning to Islamic Relief to establish our mission in Malawi. Later serving as Head of Programme Funding and Partnerships, Waseem led the response to major crises across the globe, including the East Africa drought, Pakistan earthquake and the Indian Ocean Tsunami.

Waseem then served for nearly 6 years as our Director of International Programmes, during which time the charity secured and retained the coveted Core Humanitarian Standard certification in recognition of the quality of our programming. He was appointed CEO of Islamic Relief in May 2021.

With a special interest in community mobilisation and infrastructure, Waseem received an MSc in Project Planning and Management from the University of Bradford, as well as an MSc in Economics from Arid Agriculture University in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

Waseem has also worked for Lepra Health in Action and is a member of the International Civil Society Centre’s Board of Trustees. The father-of-3 enjoys walking and playing football, and is a keen birdwatcher.