MARRAKESH – The clothing industry has contributed to disaster relief operations in Morocco, where it is now known that more than 2,900 people were killed in an earthquake in the High Atlas Mountains.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has issued an emergency appeal for 100 million Swiss francs ($112 million), and among those who have already donated are Inditex, the owner of Zara, the H&M Foundation, and Decathlon.
The Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) has urged its members to help their affected suppliers, employees, and representatives, particularly fashion and textile companies that procure from Morocco.
To understand the effects of the tragedy on workers and supply chains, ETI executive director Peter McAllister stated the organization would interact with members of companies, trade unions, and NGOs.
As they struggle to extract survivors from the rubble and begin to consider reconstructing their lives, “Our thoughts and sympathies are with all those affected,” he said.
To assist those most in need, particularly in the regions of Al Hauz, Marrakech, Taroudant, Chichauoua, and Ouarzazate, Inditex has donated €3 million ($3.2 million) to Spain’s Red Cross. To aid groups operating in the area, Inditex also provides clothing, shoes, and home goods.
Within hours following the earthquake, according to Decathlon, local teams were mobilized to provide thousands of sleeping bags, tents, and air mattresses to individuals in need.
The French sporting goods store claims it has also set aside €1 million ($1.1 million) to fund regional NGOs who are assisting people in the worst-affected areas and to give more equipment locally.
“Decathlon will continue to mobilize through local NGOs to ensure that the communities most affected by this disaster receive as much support and equipment as possible,” Decathlon CEO Barbara Martin Coppola stated. The globe has to unite in global solidarity right now.
The philanthropic arm of the world’s largest retailer of fashion, the H&M Foundation, has donated $250,000 to the IFRC’s emergency relief appeal.
“Those affected by this awful accident are in our thoughts. Karl-Johan Persson, a board member, stated, “We at the H&M Foundation wanted to demonstrate our support and solidarity to the people of Morocco with this donation, which will benefit the aid relief activities of the Red Cross Red Crescent in Morocco.
