MOROCCO – Operation Blessing is dedicated to sending help to hard to reach places in Morocco after the tragic earthquake in that country. We are pushing past dangerous areas and heavy machinery to bless those victims who need it most–all because you care!
Reaching Out in the Hard Places
Closer to the epicenter, you can see the full extent of the disaster, and this video catches a birds eye view for you. Thanks to you, we were able to make it to this remote village. We have been one of the few, and one of the first humanitarian organizations to reach many of these villages. And the people are so happy and grateful for your help!
With your support, we arrived with disaster relief supplies including food, water, and solar lamps to light the dark nights with no electricity. These supplies are so important to villagers sleeping outdoors because their homes have been decimated or left crumbling and too dangerous to return to.
In the video you also hear from Rasheed, who lost his brother in the quake. Rasheed is now volunteering to help the survivors through Operation Blessing, and he shows us around the ruins.
We can’t thank those of you who have already donated enough! You are making a huge difference in this tragic time, especially those in hard to reach places in Morocco. Please keep Moroccans in your prayers as they continue to cope with this tragedy and rebuild their lives. If you’d like to donate to help disaster victims at this time, please visit https://ob.org/obdisaster.
MOROCCO – “It was like a miracle when they came here,” said a Moroccan volunteer named Zouhair. “We are so blessed with Operation Blessing.” We want to offer a huge thanks to friends like you for sending Morocco earthquake aid during this dark time following the tragic and deadly disaster. But more help is still needed.
Thousands are dead and tens of thousands are without homes right now in Morocco. People are sleeping outdoors away from the dangerous crumbling buildings. Many of the survivors have lost loved ones. They desperately need help, comfort, encouragement and hope.
An Operation Blessing staff member shares his story and his heart for the hurting people in Morocco in the video. Because of you, Operation Blessing is on the ground in remote areas providing tangible relief for those affected in the form of Morocco earthquake aid. We gave them meals to eat and supply bags full of critical items like food, water, and solar lights. The solar lights will brighten the dark nights in areas without electricity.
Compassionate friends like you are also allowing volunteers like Zouhair to join Operation Blessing in responding to the devastating earthquake which has shaken his home country of Morocco.
Thank you for your heart for disaster victims. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers. If you’d like to help, you can donate now at ob.org/obdisaster
FLORIDA – After Hurricane Idalia hit vulnerable neighborhoods in Florida, several volunteers joined the Operation Blessing disaster relief team to aid families in need. This is the second disaster that Crystal has volunteered with Operation Blessing. She said, “These people had tragic events in their life, and they needed someone to care, someone to step forward, someone to let them know that God was still listening, that God was still watching, and God was there to rescue.”
Caring Volunteers Aid Hurricane Idalia Victims Like Tom And Dee
Crystal and the team arrived at Thomas and Dee’s home in Homosassa. Immediately, Tom and Dee felt the compassion and care of the Operation Blessing volunteers. Thomas told us, “Operation Blessing is one of the best caring groups of humanity.” He continued, “Even though I lost a lot of material things, the care I’m seeing far outweighs.” When we walked into Tom and Dee’s house, it was saturated by water. Debris had floated onto their property.
With the support of Operation Blessing partners, our volunteers went into the home, gutted the bathrooms and kitchen, and then removed the office furniture that had been destroyed. Crystal remarked, “There was hope that was not there when we walked in. Tom’s countenance changed–far more positive and looking forward to tomorrow.”
With tears in his eyes, Tom said, “In my years, I can’t say I appreciate anything more than what you guys have done for us.” He continued, “Seeing a group of people helping me and others has made me realize there’s a good side to everything.”
Crystal shared her love of the volunteer experience. “These people are in true desperate need, and they find love in our help. Something so simple as cleaning up a bathroom for an elderly couple or mucking out a storage building can mean so much.”
Finally, Crystal said, “What more could we really ask for that we’ve had an impact on someone’s life and made their life a little better?”
MOROCCO – You won’t want to miss this first-hand account of how friends like you are already making a powerful difference for earthquake survivors in Morocco. Watch now as our International Disaster Director, Diego Traverso, brings you the situation on the ground following the deadly earthquake.
Just a few days ago, Morocco suffered one of the biggest earthquakes of the last century. Now, many villages are completely devastated. Hope is scarce, but that’s where you come in. With your continued support, Operation Blessing is on the ground right now, assessing immediate needs and working with local partners to bring disaster relief after the Morocco earthquake.
Earthquake Relief
In the video, Traverso takes you to Amizmiz, a small remote village in Morocco that was decimated. The roads are hard to travel, and very little help had reached them. However, because of the compassion of friends like you, Operation Blessing has reached them and is assisting with earthquake aid like water, blankets, milk, bread, and other essential supplies for this community.
Morocco Earthquake Support
Tens of thousands of people in this region will need a tremendous outpouring of love and support to make it through these difficult days without homes, businesses, schools, stores, and other essential buildings and supplies. You can help them rebuild their lives. Will you please open your heart and reach out with a special gift for disaster victims today?
GUATEMALA – As a parent, Nury frequently faced this difficult decision: food or medicine? Imagine having to make that choice for your child. Every day, many families around the world deal with this dilemma because they can’t afford both. But your love is reaching out to them with a solution.
Nury has lived in the remote community of El Reposo, Guatemala, since she was a child. To see a doctor, residents must walk 45 minutes to the nearest health center. Even if they can make the journey, many simply can’t afford to purchase medication.
Food Or Medicine…A Choice No One Should Have To Make
“Many times, we spend more than we earn per day,” said Juana, who also lives in El Reposo. “Sometimes when you get sick or something happens to you, you have to figure out what to do—take natural medicine or seek help from a neighbor.”
Thanks to the generous support of friends like you, Operation Blessing was able to provide them with an answer to their problem— training residents to become Community Health Volunteers. Through the class, Nury and other community members like Juana learned how to administer basic first aid care, measure vital signs, and detect signs of malnutrition, COVID-19, and other serious diseases.
Juana was able to put her training into practice almost immediately when her niece was bitten by a squirrel. “At that moment I remembered that they had given us a first aid kit. I put into practice everything that we had been taught in the course by Operation Blessing.” She used the supplies to stop the bleeding quickly. “The program was very good for us. Now we know what to do in any situation.”
After graduating, Nury will be able to serve her family—and community—when they get sick. “It is a great relief and blessing for what they taught us,” she told us. “Thanks to Operation Blessing for helping us!”
MOROCCO – You might have already heard the heartbreaking news of the earthquake in Morocco. The death toll is now nearly 2,500 people and is expected to continue climbing. The people of Morocco desperately need help right now.
But, Operation Blessing has been responding to this type of life-shattering natural disaster for decades.Thanks to our faithful friends like YOU, we are already on the move to help victims of this devastating quake.
Right now, our multinational disaster team is rushing aid to the area including water purification systems, tents, and solar lights. At the same time, we’re continuing to assess the situation with partners in the region to determine how we can best serve the people in the aftermath of this terrible disaster.
Helping Earthquake Victims in Morocco
As one victim put it, “All the walls literally felt like Play-Doh and the floor just felt as if it was melting underneath my knees. I thought, ‘I’m going to die.’” This quake mainly affected vulnerable people in rural mountain areas. Many who survived have no safe homes or buildings to return to. Together with partners like you, Operation Blessing will show God’s love by offering relief to hurting people during this tragic time.
VIRGINIA BEACH, VA (September 10, 2023) – Operation Blessing is deploying members of its International Disaster Relief team to Morocco to aid in the relief efforts following a deadly earthquake that has reportedly killed more than 2,000 people.
Relief After Deadly Earthquake Strikes
Diego Traverso, director of International Disaster Relief, will join Operation Blessing team members from Spain and Virginia Beach to distribute relief supplies including solar-powered lights and water filtration equipment, and to help with immediate needs. The team will also meet with local officials to determine the best response in the coming days and weeks.
Helping Disaster Victims
Traverso most recently led Operation Blessing’s efforts to help the people of Turkey, following an earthquake in early February.
Operation Blessing continues its efforts to help the people of Florida recover after Hurricane Idalia, and team leaders are also keeping a close eye on Hurricane Lee off the east coast of the USA.
Stay tuned for more information about Operation Blessing’s Turkey response. To donate to the relief efforts: https://www.ob.org/disasterrelief/
About Operation Blessing
Based in Virginia Beach, VA, Operation Blessing (OB) provides humanitarian services such as strategic disaster relief, medical care, hunger relief, and clean water. Founded in 1978, Operation Blessing has touched the lives of millions of people in more than 90 countries and territories, including the US.
VIRGINIA BEACH – Nye has always believed in helping others. Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, this single mother of four was working as a nurse in her Virginia community—until she went into respiratory failure and became a patient herself. That’s when she needed help from friends like you.
“They said I was gone for about eight seconds,” Nye said. “The doctors believe that I had COVID, and that turned to pneumonia.” She had to quit working because she couldn’t risk further exposure to COVID. The lack of income began to impact other areas of her life. Food scarcity in Virginia Beach was now a problem for her, as she didn’t have enough savings to afford everything she and her family needed.
“It was a very scary time for me not to be able to support my kids,” Nye explained.“We were just honestly living off of the savings that I had accumulated. And once that started dwindling, I started panicking.”
Freedom From Food Scarcity In Virginia Beach
Then, her pastor at Freedom Church told her the church was starting a food pantry with the help of Operation Blessing. There, thanks to you, Nye received the food she desperately needed to feed her family. “The food pantry actually helped me and my kids a lot,” Nye told Operation Blessing staff. “God really answered my prayers.” The food pantry made sure Nye and her family were no longer facing food scarcity in Virginia Beach on a regular basis.
When Nye’s pastor gave her the opportunity to run the food pantry, she seized the chance to give back to the community again. “Anything for the Lord!” Nye exclaimed. “When we partnered with Operation Blessing, it opened opportunities for me to do what I know the Lord put me on this earth to do, and that’s to meet others that are in need.”
Thanks to our ministry partners and to you, Nye’s family made it through the rough patch. Now Nye is back to working full time as a nurse—and her family is thriving. “The Lord has carried me through so many storms. He has covered me in so many ways,” she said, overcome with emotion. “I’m filled with so much joy and happiness.”
Because of the love Jesus Christ poured out on us, it is our mission at Operation Blessing to be used to pour out His love to others. Thanks to friends like you, families just like Nye’s are receiving the help they need when they need it the most.
INDIA – Nothing brings parents more joy than welcoming a new child into their home. Every moment is cherished. The first days and weeks are filled with delight and anticipation about the bright future waiting for their little one. But dark clouds quickly steal that joy when a child is born sick or with an abnormality that jeopardizes his future.
A Dark Day in India
For Nirnay’s parents, his condition became a nightmare when they realized there was no way that they could help their son—unless someone like you intervened. Nirnay’s parents would soon realize that their child was in desperate need of surgery.
After little Nirnay was born, a gland under his tongue began to swell and grow. By the time he was just 2 years old, it was so large that it filled most of his mouth. He could barely eat. His mother fed him soft food through a tiny opening near his upper lip.
“He cannot eat or speak properly, and he is unable to control his saliva,” said Sudesh, Nirnay’s father. “We must always be careful with him, so he does not get injured or infected.” Their sweet little boy needed around-the-clock care at home—he could not go out or play with other children.
In Desperate Need Of Surgery…But Unable To Afford It
Without help, their son would never be able to thrive. Nirnay’s parents took him to a nearby government hospital but only received referrals to other hospitals. They were devastated to discover that Nirnay needed multiple surgeries to correct his condition, as they would never be able to cover the cost of treatment on their own.
Every time Sudesh looked at his child, he felt helpless. “We tried a lot to get him treated through the government hospital, but nothing worked out.” They were out of options—and out of hope.
Then compassionate friends like you stepped in to take away the despair of this precious family. Nirnay would get the surgeries he needed—paid in full.
After his first surgery, Nirnay made a quick recovery. He was able to eat without difficulty and even began learning how to speak. During follow-up visits, his doctors determined that he wouldn’t need the other surgeries after all!
Nirnay’s parents were thrilled. Their son would be able to eat, talk, and grow along with other children his age. The compassion of people on the other side of the globe had truly given them a miracle and restored their dreams for the bright future they had imagined.
“I am happy for my son,” Sudesh said. “I had no chance and was unable to help my son get any treatment. But the support from Operation Blessing and surgery at Padhar Hospital changed our lives, especially Nirnay’s. Watching him laughing and eating regularly makes me delighted.”
You Are Changing Lives With Surgery
Every year, our Operation Blessing family helps provide thousands of life-changing surgeries to desperate families around the world who would not otherwise be able to afford the cost of surgery. It is only through the kindness of people like you that we are able to make miracles like Nirnay’s possible.
Thank you for your heart to bless the hurting and helping a young boy in desperate need of surgery. If you′d like to help patients in need directly, visit our surgeries catalog at ob.org/surgeries
KENYA – One, two, three… Khoboso counted. Yes, all six of her sweet little ones were there, snuggled up close to each other in sleep. She was thankful. At least they were safe and together. But dread quickly overcame her brief moment of comfort. They still had nothing to eat.
The drought had swept through their region like a pack of hungry wolves, devouring the herd of camels her family depended upon for survival—along with the flocks and herds of her entire pastoral community. If it wasn’t for compassionate friends like you, their story would have had a terrible end.
“All the livestock we had have been wiped out by the drought. Five sickly camels are all we have left. Before this drought,” Khoboso said, “whenever we needed food, we would take a few animals and sell them, then we would buy food for our families and children.” Khoboso went on, “We move among our neighbors and relatives begging. If we get lucky, we get a little something. If not, then we all sleep hungry.”
Days And Days Of Having Nothing To Eat
When Operation Blessing met Khoboso, she was near the end of her rope. Days and days of being faced with the prospect of having nothing to eat had taken a toll. “My husband and I keep asking ourselves, ‘How will our children survive in this drought?’ Even if we get lucky from begging, whatever we get is still too little even for the children. It’s just something to trick our stomachs. It’s never a proper meal.”
But happily, because of your amazing kindness, their situation would soon change. When we learned about Khoboso’s village, we made a commitment to be the difference for the suffering souls who call it home.
Operation Blessing Provides Hunger Relief
One day, Khoboso saw a group of people approaching in the distance. She’d heard of them before. Hope was on the horizon! As Operation Blessing volunteers entered the village and started handing out bags of rice, beans, maize, and containers of cooking oil—solid staples to sustain a family— Khoboso’s heart soared. You had come to her rescue!
She hurried home with her bounty in hand, eager to share the good news with her children. As she heated the oil and the smell of cooked food began to waft throughout their hut, she was overcome with emotion. They almost hadn’t made it. But compassionate strangers like you answered her prayers. When the kids woke up from their naps, they couldn’t believe their eyes. It was a moment they’ll never forget—a moment made possible by you.
“Thanks to you, today I am not worried about where we will get food! We have enough for us and our children.” Khoboso shared the gratitude filling the hearts of many in the village. “The joy that we have today is because God answered our prayers and sent you to bring us food. We are really grateful!”
Partner With Operation Blessing As We Help Communities In Kenya
Every day, the love of Operation Blessing supporters makes its way through communities across Kenya.
Together, we fight the effect of natural disasters like the drought that stole Khoboso’s way of life. Through initiatives like sack gardens in desert environments, we help families sustain themselves for the long term. By offering whatever supplies or assistance they are most lacking, you provide tangible evidence of God’s love that Kenyans will remember for years to come.
When you stand with us, you also make sure families have clean water access near their homes so they can drink and cook without getting sick. And you empower families to provide for themselves through microenterprise projects like goat-rearing and beekeeping.
You are giving people a way to break the cycle of poverty in Kenya. Thank you!
