Arsenal star Bukayo Saka finances container village to support victims of the devastating Morocco earthquake

 Arsenal star Bukayo Saka has donated 50 containers to help provide shelter for 255 people impacted by the devastating earthquake in Morocco.

Morocco was struck by its biggest earthquake in over 120 years in September, killing at least 3,000 people.

The provinces of Al Haouz and Taroudant were among the most affected regions by the disaster, with the earthquake having registered 7.2 on the Richter scale.

Saka has worked with the charity BigShoe to provide much needed shelter for 84 families in a small village in the Taroudant region.

The village alone saw 42 people die in the natural disaster.

Saka has supported those impacted by donating 50 containers, which are equipped with a sleeping area, power sockets, a kitchenette and a bathroom with a washbasin, toilet and shower. 

The containers have also had protective grilles fitted to the windows to serve as fall protection in the event of further earthquakes.

The Arsenal and England winger expressed hope the containers can help the 84 families and 89 children regain part of their everyday lives.

'I was shocked when I heard about the terrible earthquake in Morocco,' Saka said.

'But in the second moment, I knew that I really want to help, and we started to look at what we can do to help the displaced families.

'We found a way to help relatively quickly, and we were able to put a roof over their head and give them some comfort and hope to those who have lost everything through no fault of their own.

'In situations where people are fighting for survival, losing their homes or their loved ones, you become even more aware of the privileged situation you live in.'

Saka added that he had been touched by the stories of a boy with Down's syndrome, the disability of an older man and widows following the disaster.

The 22-year-old had previously teamed up with BigShoe to fund 120 life-changing operations for children in Nigeria last year.

He also financed emergency shelters in Turkish cities impacted by earthquakes at the start of 2023.

BigShoe's work helping less privileged children has been backed by several leading stars since being founded in 2006.

Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger and former Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil have also worked with the charity, which has helped more than 1,800 children worldwide.