Edmontonians rally to support loved ones devastated by earthquake in Morocco
CBC
When Lahsen El Falsi heard his family near Marrakech was safe, it was a relief like no other.
"Thank God, all our families are okay," he said in an interview with CBC's Edmonton AM from Rabat, Morocco.
El Falsi moved back to Morocco after living in Edmonton for multiple years.
A 6.8 magnitude earthquake that struck the country's Atlas Mountains last week has left destruction and devastation in its wake.
Nearly 3,000 people are dead and thousands more injured in what is the country's deadliest earthquake in more than six decades.
"Moroccans they are showing their support, their sympathy, toward those affected people," El Falsi said.
While living in Edmonton, El Falsi became one of the founding members of the non-profit Moroccan Society of Alberta in 2011.
The organization is one of multiple groups that are managing financial donations.
LISTEN | Former Edmontonian talks about tragic fallout in Morocco after earthquake
As El Falsi works to help his loved ones, in Edmonton, Imam Sadique Pathan said Al Rashid Mosque has rallied to provide support.
"Entire villages literally almost being wiped off the map. It's really hard to process it," he said.
"The community is very much united. Everyone's working quite closely together, trying to coordinate how best to respond to the needs."
Pathan said mosques in Edmonton are working hard to collect money to send overseas to charities on the ground, such as Islamic Relief Canada.
Officials in Morocco searching for victims and survivors have so far accepted on-the-ground help from just four countries: Spain, the U.K., Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
This First Person column is the experience of Shannon Flaman, who lives in Red Deer, Alta. For more information about CBC's First Person stories, please see the FAQ.
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