Morocco will allocate nearly 11 billion euros to reconstruction tasks after the earthquake

MADRID, 21 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) -

King Mohamed VI of Morocco has revealed that the country will allocate 120 billion dirhams (around 11 billion euros) to reconstruction tasks in the provinces affected by the earthquake of magnitude 6.8 on the open Richter scale that shook the country on September 8, which left nearly 3,000 dead.

The Royal Cabinet has specified in a statement that the announcement was made during a meeting at the Royal Palace of Rabat to address the reconstruction program in these areas, in line with those held on September 9 and 14 to address the tragedy.

Thus, he has indicated that the estimated budget is 120,000 million dirhams that 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.

Financing for this program will be obtained through the General Budgets, contributions from territorial communities and the special account created to manage the consequences of the earthquake, in addition to donations and international cooperation.

The document highlights that the program covers the reconstruction of homes and the improvement of infrastructure, as well as the reinforcement of socioeconomic development in these areas, based on an action model with a total of four axes.

The four axes involve "relocating injured people, rebuilding homes and rehabilitating infrastructure; breaking isolation and improving territories; accelerating the reabsorption of social deficits, especially in mountainous areas affected by the earthquake; and encouraging economic activity." and employment, as well as valuing local initiatives".

Likewise, it also addresses the creation in each region of a platform for essential reserves to immediately confront possible national catastrophes, as reported by the Moroccan state news agency, MAP.

On the other hand, Mohamed VI has stressed the importance of "permanently listening to the local population to provide adapted solutions" and has advocated for "exemplary governance", while stating that the program must become "a integrated and balanced territorial development model".

The Prime Minister of Morocco, Aziz Ajanuch, highlighted on Monday that the Government is working for "the good development" of reconstruction operations and stressed that "they will take into account the reinforcement of infrastructure and the improvement of the quality of public services." .

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.