American aircraft manufacturing giant Boeing has donated $300,000 to earthquake relief funds in Morocco through its Boeing Charitable Trust and has pledged to match donations from its employees as it looks to support disaster relief efforts in the country.
Half of the funds will go to the American Red Cross, which is working with the global Red Cross and Red Crescent network, while the other half will be donated to CARE International.
Ziad Ojakli, executive vice-president of government operations at Boeing, said: “Amidst the devastation left in the wake of this earthquake, we extend our deepest sympathy to Moroccans who are enduring such unimaginable hardship.
"Boeing colleagues around the world are dedicated to supporting the people of Morocco and we stand ready to collaborate with local partners to provide meaningful assistance that leads to healing, rebuilding and renewal."
Boeing’s donations will support the relief and recovery efforts in the country, which was hit by a 6.8-magnitude earthquake on 8 September and has already seen around 2,900 deaths, making it Morocco’s deadliest earthquake in more than 60 years. At least 5,000 people are still missing.
The company’s announcement falls in line with its wider commitment to support the communities where Boeing employees live and work, as it has had a presence in Morocco for more than five decades.
Madden Manion, executive director of Corporate Partnerships for CARE International, said: “These coming days are critical and the generous and timely support shown by Boeing will help us immensely in our work. CARE's priority is to provide hot meals, safe water supply, emergency shelter, medical and psychosocial support.
“The reports we are hearing from the ground are heartbreaking. According to our team in Morocco, hundreds of people are sleeping in the streets at night, lying in blankets in parks in the heart of Marrakesh, too afraid to go home.”
Boeing’s own donations follow other disaster relief work organised by members of the aviation industry following the deadly earthquakes in Turkey in February 2023.
