Bangor Charity 'K9 Search and Rescue' are standing ready to help the Morocco rescue effort
The worst destruction is in small, rural communities that are hard for rescuers to reach because of the mountainous terrain
Last updated 10th Sep 2023
Moroccans are working to rescue survivors of the nation's strongest earthquake in more than a century, in which more than 2,000 people were killed.
Soldiers and workers brought water and supplies to mountain villages in ruins as international aid crews remained in limbo waiting for the nation to request their help.
Those left homeless by the destruction of Friday night's earthquake slept outside on Saturday, in the streets of the ancient city of Marrakech or under makeshift canopies in Atlas Mountain towns like Moulay Brahim, among the hardest hit.
The worst destruction is in small, rural communities that are hard for rescuers to reach because of the mountainous terrain.
Joanne Dorrian is a trustee of Bangor charity ‘K9 Search and Rescue’, in County Down. She says they are standing ready to help the Morocco rescue effort. She believes canine help is vital.
“The dogs themselves can do so much more than a human ever can. I mean, even covering the amount of ground that they can cover. It might take two days to search an area with humans. But a dog can do that in a matter of hours… by deploying a dog into a search and rescue mission, you know that you're given the person the best chance of being found.”
The Bangor charity are in close contact with the Moroccan embassy, so they are aware the death toll is now over 2000 and growing. Ms Dorrian is hoping for a call soon from Morocco. They have not yet called for national aid, but the charity is ‘prepped and ready’ to get on a plane and help save lives.
“We are ready, we are equipped and it's just a case of getting the green light from Morocco. But we are we are chomping to get out there because this is what we live for as a charity.”
The charity is self-funded, Ms Dorrian encourages people to donate and reminds the public that “K9 Search and Rescue will be there for their family if it's ever needed.”