Moroccans in Ottawa plan aid for those ravaged by earthquake

Ilham Chabi's job is to find people homes, so she's feeling a strong urge to return to Morocco and help however she can.

"If I could provide support with the blankets or [something assimple] as a tent so people can actually go and sleep at night that will probably be a small reward to my heart," the Ottawa realtor said on the weekend.

Chabi's native country (which she'd just visited two weeks ago) is grappling with the devastation wrought bythe nation's strongest earthquake in more than a century.

The disaster has killed more than 2,100 people, a number that is expected to rise. The United Nations estimated 300,000 people were affected by Friday night's magnitude 6.8 quake.

Chabihas lived in Canada's capital for 29 years, while some of her family lives in Morocco, including her mother and an older sister who was onthe phone with Chabi when the quake hit.

"She was stressed, and thefirst thing she thought about is to let everyone know and to run outside," Chabi said.

The family is safe, Chabisaid,but so many Moroccans, including residents ofruined mountain villages, desperately need help.

"That's what's [pushing]that motivation for me to go back and actually do something physical," Chabisaid, adding that she's seriously considering flying out to Moroccoas early as this Wednesday.

WATCH | What kind of help Moroccans need:

Moroccans need clean water to avoid 'secondary calamity' after quake, aid worker says

1 year ago

Duration 3:15

Rahul Singh, the executive director of the humanitarian relief group GlobalMedic, discusses the needs facing Morocco after a devastating earthquake and the challenges of providing support.

In the meantime, Chabi is speaking to friends who are willing to buy essential supplies in Canadafor her and others to take overseas.

"Peopleneed medication, food, blankets, tents, things that aregoingto keep them warm," she said.

Chabi addedshe has spoken to theEmbassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in Ottawa about organizing flights with theMoroccan national airline.

The Moroccan government has not yetrequested international help, according to a statement from Global Affairs Canada on Sunday evening.

That's a source of concern for relief groups revved up to help.

The federal governmenthas been in contact with approximately 50Canadian citizens in Morocco and is providing assistance but is not aware of any Canadian citizen injured or killed in the earthquake, the department added.

Gathering held outside embassy

The embassy welcolmed people to gather outside its building on Sunday evening to mourn the earthquake's victims.

Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe was among the dignitaries who were there.

The Moroccan populationin Ottawa numbers over2,000 people 5,000 when you factor in Gatineau, Que.,and other nearby areas of western Quebec and has grownrapidlyin the last three years, Chabi said.

Khalid Bouazza, the owner of Moroccan Market Centre in Ottawa, has family back in Moroccothat were unharmed.

Still,he worries about parts of the country wherehistoric infrastructure is more vulnerable to natural disasters.He invited people to gather at this store on the weekend to commune and share information.

"Those people [that]need the support, they need to talk to somebody," he said.

WATCH | Why this earthquake was this bad:

Seismologist explains what made Moroccos earthquake so deadly

1 year ago

Duration 3:53

A rare and powerful earthquake toppled buildings and killed at least 2,000 people in Morocco. Seismology and geophysics expert John Cassidy explains what made this particular quake so destructive and deadly.

Ibrahim Sballil, chairman of the board for leCentre islamique de l'Outaouaisin Gatineau, said the mosque was planning a fundraiser on Friday.

"I am a Moroccan, so I feel very engaged and committed with this issue now," he said.

• Get the news you need without restrictions. Download ourfree CBC News App.