France is playing a leading role in the international response to the earthquake in Morocco that has left around 2,900 people dead and 5,500 injured.

The two countries have strong historical links and the strength of that relationship has seen France raise millions of euros in financial aid to help survivors to begin rebuilding their lives.

The epicenter of the earthquake was located in the High Atlas mountain range. Towns and villages at the mountain's base were worst affected, with the traditional mud brick and stone housing providing little resistance to the quake's 6.8 magnitude.

A‌round 2,000 kilometers away from the epicenter of the disaster, people living in Paris with links to Morocco have been hard at work launching donation drives to help those worst affected.

‌There are more than one million Moroccans living in France, and the country's Association of Moroccans is helping coordinate the delivery of money and other aid to the quake zone.

READ MORE

Why Chinese carmakers should invest in F1

How greenhouse tech could transform UK food production

Morocco's mud brick housing buries survivors

‌One of its General Delegates, Souad Frikech-Chaouih, says they are only looking for certain items that will have the biggest impact.

‌"The association set up a crisis unit on Saturday," she told CGTN. "We're looking at the most practical ways of providing help. We say no to sending food aid. It's better to collect money and help small local businesses there. When it comes to transferring equipment, we're focusing on medical supplies, blankets and tents."

‌She says she has been heartened by the reaction from the Moroccan community in Paris: "Franco-Moroccan citizens were deeply affected and upset by this earthquake, but at the same time it triggered an extraordinary wave of solidarity. People immediately offered to help, whether in terms of equipment, voluntary work, donations or local involvement in Morocco. 

"I've got nurses and young people who want to go there and help as they can. By treating people or rebuilding roads and infrastructure. Unfortunately, every disaster has its heavy side. But it also has a positive side, which is the surge of solidarity."

While goodwill in the form of clothes, shoes, or other supplies is appreciated, non-governmental organizations say it's far cheaper to buy the vast majority of items in Morocco or from neighboring countries, and transport them to the affected area.

‌France's largest grant making organization is Fondation de France. It has decades of experience in disaster response, including in Turkiye and Syria earlier in the year. It was already funding local and regional organizations in Morocco and is now using those contacts to build a picture village-by-village to coordinate a bespoke response.

‌Its Chief International & Development Officer, Frédéric Théret, says the foundation already know hundreds of organizations in Morocco which can do the necessary work, as well as pass on important information about what help is required.

‌He says money which has been donated is already being used on the ground:‌ "We've raised up to four million euros, which in three days is incredible. People are extraordinarily generous to help the Moroccan people, and their needs are tremendous. We don't have a single estimate but people are already talking about needing billions of euros of help. So every euro, every dollar, every pound is very useful for the people there.”

‌Aid agencies report they are already thinking longer term about what will be required in the weeks and months ahead. The warm temperatures will not last long and snow will soon descend on the Atlas mountains. They hope to ensure victims of the earthquake have shelter before then.

Subscribe to Storyboard: A weekly newsletter bringing you the best of CGTN every Friday