Like most everywhere else in the world, Morocco has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the situation there is more severe than what is being experienced in the United States, according to UFC featherweight Youssef Zalal.
Born in the Northwest African country, Zalal (8-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC) currently resides in the U.S. Much of his family, however, is still in Morocco. Staying in daily contact with his loved ones, Zalal has heard first-hand about the difficulties Moroccans have experienced during these trying times.
“It’s way different than here,” Zalal told MMA Junkie on Monday. “My family down there – you can’t get out. (At) six o’clock or seven o’clock, if you got out and the cops catch you, you’re going to jail, basically. There’s no playing around.
“The food and the employment is already bad down there. It’s like only 30 percent employment already down there. People can’t really get money and stuff like that if they don’t really go to work or hustle something. It’s very hard out there and very different.”
Zalal recognizes the platform he has as a professional athlete in the UFC. Hoping to combat food shortages for Moroccan families, Zalal has started a GoFundMe page. The campaign was established to raise money for care packages that would be purchased and sent directly to families in Morocco.
“I can use my platform here to get my money sent to them and get it going over there,” Zalal said. “This is a great thing I wanted to do. I thought this was a great time to start it.”
As of Monday night, Zalal raised $1,339 with the help of 28 donors. That’s approximately enough money to feed 20 families for four to six months. Zalal’s goal is set at $3,000, which would feed about 60 families for the same time period.
“We helped 20 people already,’ Zalal said. “My cousin sent me a list of what they have. They have couscous. They have tea. They have sugar. They have honey. They hav eggs, flour, pasta, milk – all you can name. It’s there. It’s $60 a bag. The bag ships and feeds about four to six families for three weeks – maybe less sometimes. It depends on how they eat.”
Check out MMA Junkie’s full interview with Youssef Zalal in the video above.
UFC's Youssef Zalal gives back to native Morocco during COVID-19 pandemic
