Morocco says it will “use all its means” in the “rapid reconstruction” phase after the earthquake

2023-09-26 09:39:07

The prime minister says this stage “will include schools, hospitals and vital infrastructure” damaged by the earthquake

MADRID, 26 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) –

The Prime Minister of Morocco, Aziz Ajanuch, has stressed that the authorities “will use all their means” in the “rapid reconstruction” phase of the damage caused by the earthquake of magnitude 6.8 on the open Richter scale that shook the country. on September 8, leaving nearly 3,000 dead.

Ajanuch, who headed the fourth meeting of the inter-ministerial commission in charge of implementing the rehabilitation and reconstruction program after the earthquake, stressed that this phase “will include schools, hospitals and vital infrastructure affected by the earthquake.”

Thus, he highlighted that these projects will be financed through the special account created for the management of relief and reconstruction efforts, created by order of King Mohamed VI, according to a statement published by his office through its website.

In this sense, he revealed that a series of meetings will be held “over the next few days” to coordinate efforts and complete the plan for the implementation of development projects in the affected areas. Among the plans will be an agency in charge of “ensuring the effective application of this program.”

The Moroccan Prime Minister has also emphasized that “the government dynamic continues to rebuild homes and rehabilitate damaged infrastructure, as well as to reinforce social and economic development in these areas.”

Mohamed VI revealed last week that the country will allocate 120 billion dirhams (around 11 billion euros) to reconstruction tasks in the provinces affected by the earthquake. The funds will be used over a period of five years in the six affected provinces – Al Haouz, Azilal, Chichaua, Marrakech, Taroudant and Ouarzazate – with a total of 4.2 million beneficiaries.

In the face of the tragedy, the international community has offered humanitarian aid, although Rabat has only accepted aid from a few countries, including Spain. Mohamed VI, for his part, was absent during the first days after the event. On September 12 he appeared in public for the first time during a visit to a Marrakech hospital where hundreds of wounded people are recovering.