Morocco relief efforts from Newham Business Awards winner Irons Supporting Foodbanks

West Ham United and Irons Supporting Foodbanks will combine this weekend, to help assist the relief and support efforts in Morocco following a devastating earthquake in the country.

Endorsed by the Hammers’ Morocco international defender Nayef Aguerd, all donations to Irons Supporting Foodbanks at this weekend’s Premier League fixture against Manchester City will help with the severe and immediate needs of those affected, as well as planning the longer-term support that will be needed in the weeks and months to come.

On Friday 8 September, at 11pm local time, a 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck Morocco. The epicentre was in the High Atlas Mountains, approximately 70km south of Marrakesh. A 4.9 magnitude aftershock followed just 20 minutes later.

Local authorities are now reporting that over 2,900 people have died, with many more critically injured. The total number of people affected is in the hundreds of thousands.

Many of the worst affected areas are remote and mountainous, making them harder to reach, so these numbers are likely to rise rapidly as the full impact of the disaster becomes clearer.

At Saturday’s fixture against Manchester City, Irons Supporting Foodbanks – who have a longstanding relationship with the Club, with Joint-Chair David Sullivan making regular donations over the years – will be located on Stratford Walk, by the Aquatics Centre, and also outside Hackney Wick Station. All contributions at this weekend’s game, including money, non-perishable food items or clothing, will be donated by ISF and Newham Foodbank towards the relief and support efforts in Morocco, via the British Moroccan Society.