On Friday, September 8, 2023, Morocco’s Marrakesh-Safi region suffered a devastating 6.8-magnitude earthquake. From every part of the Ria community, our hearts go out to our Moroccan colleagues, friends, and customers suffering the effects of this tragedy.

In response to this ongoing disaster, we’re offering two ways to help our customers and staff ensure that their loved ones get the support they need:

Zero-fee bank deposits to any account in Morocco through October 15, 2023.

For every cash pickup transfer to Morocco through September 30, 2023, Ria will donate 10 Dirham to fund recovery efforts.

These options will be available for transfers sent to Morocco from any country. Qualifying transfers can be made on our website, through the Ria app for iOS and Android, or in-person at any Ria location.

The earthquake struck a few minutes after 11 p.m. on the evening of September 8. The epicenter – the point on the Earth’s surface directly above the underground location where an earthquake begins – was located in the High Atlas mountain range, just over 70 kilometers southwest of Marrakesh, one of Morocco’s largest cities and home to more than 925,000 people.

As of the time of writing, more than 2,900 people have lost their lives and another 2,500 have been injured. Rescue efforts are still underway as officials search for survivors and assess the extent of the damage. In total, the World Health Organization estimates that as many as 300,000 people have been affected.

This earthquake is the deadliest to strike Morocco in more than 60 years. In addition to the staggering loss of human life, the damage to homes and infrastructure, which is still being assessed, is significant. Whole villages in the areas closest to the epicenter have reportedly been destroyed.

The road to recovery will be long and difficult, but together, we can help our customers make sure that their loved ones get the support they need.