Moroccan expats in UAE mourn losses, pray for loved ones in quake-hit areas back home

Dubai: Moroccan expats in the UAE are fervently praying for their loved ones back home, after a massive earthquake killed over 2,000 people and razed entire buildings to the ground over the weekend.

As they received the horrifying news of the 6.8-quake that struck 72km, southwest of Marrakech at 11.11pm, on Friday night, they desperately tried to reach out to their families and friends in their native places, even as rescuers dug through rubble for survivors in collapsed homes in the remote mountain villages of Morocco. There are an estimated 100,000 Moroccans residing in the UAE. 

Ikram, a Moroccan waitress at a Dubai restaurant, is mourning the loss of a loved one, the restaurant owner said.

“She is really upset,” said Hicham Hansali, owner of Al Boughaz Al Maghribi Restaurant in Abu Hail, where Ikram works.

Hansali, who hails from Casablanca, said he was grateful that his family had not been affected, but all Moroccan expats are grieving the deaths of their countrymen. “We are extremely sad about what happened. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims.”

He said he is organising a prayer meeting at his restaurant on Monday night. “I am inviting Moroccan expats here to join us for a prayer. I will invite an imam to lead the prayer and read the Quran.”

Sara Nejjar, another Moroccan expat in Dubai, said her father’s house was damaged in the earthquake.

Nejjar said she was praying for all those who have been affected by the disaster. “The survivors urgently require food and shelter. They need all the possible support they can get.”

Bouchra El Hayani, a customer service executive with Medcare Hospital, Sharjah, said her father escaped after the deadly earthquake shook him out of his bed.

“All my family members live here. Only my father is back home. He was asleep when the quake hit. He said he felt his bed shaking badly. Initially, he thought someone was shaking it. He later realised it was an earthquake and ran out of the building.”

“We are far away from home. But, all Moroccans are one family. So, we are deeply pained about the natural disaster in our country. When they are mourning there, we are mourning here,” said El Hayani.

Another Moroccan expat Safae Boukhatem also spoke of a friend’s place being completely destroyed in

Marrakech. “Most survivors spent the night out in the open after the earthquake. I was crying all day and night and called my family several times. Thankfully they are safe.”

Ahmed El Malouli, owner of Nujoom Dubai Public Relations Company, said his family members also spent the night outside after their houses in the Fez area were shaken.

“My wife, three daughters, and a son live in one house and my parents and siblings live in another house. They all felt the earthquake and ran out. They spent several hours outside over the night,” said Malouli who was relieved to know his family members were finally safe.

“There are so many countries that have announced support for Morocco. The UAE was one of the first to do it. We thank the President His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and other world leaders for standing by Morocco at this time and sending generous support,” added El Malouli.

Mohamed Elmehdi Elattar, who works at Prime Hospital, said he was extremely saddened by the increasing death toll. “There are thousands of people who are injured and last I heard, the number of injured in the waiting areas of the handful of hospitals in Marrakech was also very high. I hope and pray they get timely assistance,” he said.

“My father, mother, sister and brothers are safe. But they are all still reeling under the shock of what happened on Friday. The tremors around noon today have not helped matters.”