In a tragic turn of events, Morocco was struck by a powerful 6.8-magnitude earthquake on the evening of September 8, 2023, local time. The earthquake's epicenter was located in the High Atlas mountains, and it has reportedly claimed the lives of at least 820 people while leaving around 670 individuals injured. This disaster has prompted urgent action from humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).

From their headquarters in New York, MSF has mobilized its teams to respond to the crisis unfolding in Morocco. Avril Benoît, the executive director of MSF-USA, issued a statement on September 9, 2023, expressing their profound sorrow at the unfolding tragedy. Benoît emphasized the urgency of the situation and the organization's commitment to providing assistance.

Despite not having an established presence in Morocco, MSF is actively reaching out to local authorities to coordinate their emergency medical and humanitarian response. Their primary objective is to assess the immediate needs of the affected population and offer support wherever it is required.

Benoît stressed the importance of involving local communities in the initial response efforts, particularly in the crucial task of searching for survivors. Earthquake survivors often require specialized medical care, such as surgery or dialysis, which can be particularly challenging to provide when local healthcare systems are overwhelmed by the aftermath of a disaster.

Additionally, restoring health services and ensuring the delivery of essential supplies are top priorities for MSF in this early stage of their response. The exact nature and scale of their efforts will depend on the on-site assessments of the specific needs of the affected communities.

As Morocco grapples with the aftermath of this devastating earthquake, the mobilization of organizations like MSF is essential in providing critical relief and support to those in need during this time of crisis.