Brits caught in earthquake in Morocco join relief efforts after at least 2,100 confirmed dead
BRITS hit by an earthquake that killed at least 2,100 people joined the relief effort last night.
Dozens of people canceled their vacations and business trips and stood in line for hours to donate blood. Others planned to send supplies to areas most affected by the tremors.
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Others set up field kitchens for earthquake victims left homeless and hungry by the 6.8-magnitude earthquake in Morocco that wiped villages south of Marrakesh off the map.
And last night the British Foreign Office said it had dispatched 60 search and rescue specialists, four search dogs and equipment to the scene.
The teams fly on two huge RAF transports provided by the Ministry of Defence.
British NHS paramedics are also ready to airlift fully staffed mobile field hospitals to the disaster area.
Nicole Lovett, 32, communications director, who was attending a conference in Marrakesh, said: “I have worked in the worst-hit villages on previous trips.
“I watched a video of a village I knew that had just disappeared and it was impossible to contain my emotions.
“Many Brits like me and other conference participants have now joined the relief effort.
“They have increased local cash and transport services and will be bringing deliveries to the hardest hit areas.”
Bella Carrington, an event programmer from London, said: “I rounded up as many of us as possible to join the three-hour blood donation queue. There was no shortage of volunteers. It’s a terrible tragedy.”
TV producer Simon London, 55, said: “I’m here for a conference but within hours of the quake a group of us went to donate blood.
“A British restaurateur is also doing an incredible job setting up a food kitchen.”
The British aid organization UK-Med will move mobile field hospitals to the region if the Moroccan government asks for help.
Group CEO David Wightwick said: “We have two mobile hospitals ready to be deployed to where they are needed most, 500 NHS staff and 500 other highly trained medical professionals ready to deploy.”
The huge earthquake death toll is expected to rise even further as rescue teams reach the hardest-hit mud and brick settlements.
Aftershocks also shook the region last night.
In addition to at least 2,100 deaths, 2,059 were injured, more than 1,200 seriously.
The epicenter was in a mountainous region 40 miles south of Marrakesh.
In a single nearby settlement, up to 1,000 people died.
There are currently between 5,000 and 8,000 Brits living in Morocco.
How can you help
THE British Red Cross has launched an emergency appeal to provide vital help to earthquake victims in Morocco.
You can donate to the British Red Cross Morocco earthquake appeal via the charity’s website at redcross.org.uk or by calling 0300 004 0338.
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