As Morocco continues to pull people from the rubble of the deadly 7.0-magnitude earthquake that devastated the Al Haouz region almost a week ago, the world has been deeply touched by the tragedy, and artists have rallied to inspire prayers, donations, and assistance.
Famous singer-songwriter Cat Stevens (Yusuf Islam) lent his voice to the outpouring of sympathy, taking to X (formerly Twitter) to express his condolences and support for Morocco in the wake of the earthquake. On September 9, Stevens who is best known for his folk and rock compositions and for having converted to Islam, tweeted, “Earthquakes are most fearful reminders of our human fragility. I pray for the souls of the victims and relief for those left behind. I am so saddened looking at the terrible destruction of one of Morocco’s most jewelled cities” – Marrakech.
Stevens shared another heartfelt message on September 11, saying “My thoughts and prayers are with Morocco, it was always a ‘Makka’ for Eastern leaning souls like myself, The Stones, Zappa and Hendrix too. How Can I Tell You.”
Stevens is not alone. Artists, football players, actors, heads of state, and political leaders have all expressed their solidarity with the Moroccan people.
The official death toll is 2,946 (2944 of them now buried), with 5,674 injured, according to an update by the Interior Ministry on Wednesday.