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The inter-ministerial commission is in charge of establishing the emergency programme for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of affected areas

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Aziz Akhannouch, jefe del Gobierno de Marruecos - PHOTO/ARCHIVO
PHOTO/FILE - Aziz Akhannouch
Raúl Redondo
Updated: 12/09/23

Aziz Akhannouch chaired in the capital Rabat the first inter-ministerial commission of the Moroccan government with the mission of developing an emergency programme for the reconstruction of infrastructures and homes destroyed in the areas affected by the earthquake that struck in the early hours of Friday to Saturday morning, which has so far left more than 2,901 dead and more than 5,530 injured.  

The commission is tasked with implementing the High Royal Instructions of King Mohammed VI regarding the reconstruction of the affected areas and compensation for those affected who have lost their homes, said the head of government Aziz Akhannouch in a statement to the press after the meeting, noting that the arrangements will be officially announced in the coming days after all the points of the strategy are analysed and detailed. 

The Moroccan chief executive also noted that efforts are being made to find housing solutions for the population with a view to rebuilding homes.  

Aziz Akhannouch indicated that the Ministry of the Interior, as well as all the departments involved, are making considerable efforts and working hard in this delicate period, where the focus is on rescue and relief efforts, burial of the dead, in addition to providing food and shelter for the survivors, stressing that these operations require the mobilisation of huge resources. 

Reconstruction fund

In this line of action, the Moroccan government has set up a fund for the reconstruction of the areas affected by the earthquake with a commitment to cover expenses related to primary needs. 

The government held a remote council and, on the proposal of Fouzi Lekjaa, minister delegate in charge of the budget, approved a government decree to create a special fund to manage the effects of the earthquake.

The minister in charge of the budget said during a meeting of the finance committees of the House of Representatives on Monday that the bank account opened in an extraordinary manner will allow for voluntary solidarity contributions from public and private bodies and private citizens, stressing that "contributions will not be subject to any bank deduction", as reported by Al-Arab. 

This decree aims to take urgent measures for the areas affected by the earthquake in the North African country, as it will allow solidarity contributions to be received from public and private bodies, as well as from citizens, to cover mainly the most necessary and urgent operations, such as expenses related to the emergency rehabilitation programme and support for the reconstruction of destroyed houses. 

The assistance, rescue and reconstruction work is proving arduous and the efforts of the Moroccan administration are titanic in order to recover the affected areas as quickly as possible and to assist the victims in the best possible way.  

It must be borne in mind that some areas are difficult to access and work in because of the difficult terrain, such as the rugged mountainous area of the High Atlas.  

In this respect, the assistance of the four countries that are working on the ground to help Morocco, namely Spain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and the United Kingdom, has been important, after the Moroccan state sent a request for help to these nations. 

King Mohammed VI said that other countries that had offered to help, such as the United States, would not be asked for assistance, because the assistance should be strictly useful and necessary for good coordination and not hinder the rescue and assistance work. 

Aid and donations from abroad are also important, with examples such as that of Inditex standing out. The Spanish multinational company has donated 3 million euros to the Spanish Red Cross for the Red Crescent in response to the humanitarian aid provided after the earthquake suffered by the North African country.

The group's contribution will be used to finance the basic needs of those affected, mainly in the areas of Al Haouz, Marrakech, Taroudant, Chichaoua and Ouarzazate. 

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Morocco Politics Morocco
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