Saka build houses for Morocco earthquake victims

Arsenal star Bukayo Saka has helped to build a container village for earthquake victims in Morocco.

The England winger, 22, has funded 50 containers for a village in the Taroudant region where 255 will be able to have somewhere to live.

Almost 3000 people died when the earthquake struck in early September.

In the village, Saka is helping 42 people who were killed, but the winger is stepping in to help those who survived, working alongside charity BigShoe.

He said: "I was shocked when I heard about the terrible earthquake in Morocco.

"But in that moment I knew that I wanted to help and we started to look at what we could 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.

"I hope that the 84 families and, above all, the 89 children in the containers can regain a piece of their everyday lives."

The containers have an area to sleep, a kitchenette, a bathroom, and a shower as well as electricity.

Saka has worked with BigShoe to help those in need in the past.

Last year he funded 120 life-changing operations for children in Nigeria and earlier this year supported shelters for victims of an earthquake in Turkey.

Saka added: "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 is not the only high-profile footballer to help fund communities in need of financial aid.

Liverpool star Mo Salah has donated huge sums of money to various causes including supplying food to families in his hometown, pledging £500,000 to an Egyptian children's hospital, and donating £27,000 to help retired Egyptian footballers.

Salah's former Reds team-mate Sadio Mane also donated £500,000 towards the building of a hospital in Senegal, as well as £200,000 for a secondary school and £41,000 to combat coronavirus in his home country.

And Cristiano Ronaldo also helped out Portugal during the pandemic by providing five ventilators to hospitals.