The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) in Spain, with support from donors and partners within the global ADRA network, has funded the construction of eight prefabricated shelters in one of the villages in the Atlas Mountains, near the epicenter of the earthquake that shook Morocco on September 8, 2023.

ADRA is working on this project in coordination with a local nonprofit organization and will temporarily rehouse 32 families in the shelters before the winter cold sets in. These families have been living in tents since losing their homes to the earthquake.

The project consists of eight prefabricated modular houses, each measuring 16 square meters (172 square feet), providing families with temporary, safe, quality shelter. Each module includes four bedrooms, latrines, showers, and a communal kitchen. An outdoor area will be set up for children to have a play space.

Daniel Abad, ADRA Spain’s coordinator in Morocco, said construction began on Sunday, October 8. The first module was completed two days later, and the next module was completed on October 12. One of the most positive aspects of this project is that construction is fast and can be completed within two-to-three days, ADRA leaders said.

“For now, this is the only type of construction possible because the country has halted all brick and stone construction until new regulations are approved for future building,” Abad said. “These prefabricated houses are resilient, have good thermal insulation, and the families will be able to live in them throughout the process of rebuilding their villages, which could take one, two, or three years.”

This project, as well as ADRA Spain’s entire humanitarian response in Morocco, is made possible thanks to the selfless funding from ADRA Spain’s partners, including ADRA Germany, ADRA Japan, ADRA Australia, ADRA France, ADRA Canada, ADRA Netherlands, ADRA Belgium, ADRA Austria, ADRA Europe, ADRA Norway, ADRA New Zealand, ADRA Czech Republic, ADRA Portugal, and ADRA Switzerland.

“There is still much work to be done because the scale of the disaster is immense, and there are many people in need,” Abad said. “It’s impressive how resilient all the affected individuals are and their immense faith in Allah to overcome this. But there is still much to do. There are remote villages, very difficult to access, that are completely destroyed.”

Your support is crucial. Thank you for donating to the ADRA emergency fund and helping the earthquake-affected people in Morocco and those affected by other disasters around the world.

The original version of this story was posted on the Inter-European Division website.