Morocco announced on Thursday the implementation of emergency aid aimed at supporting and rehousing residents of around 50,000 buildings damaged by the powerful earthquake that hit the country last week.
Affected residents must be temporarily accommodated “in buildings that can withstand the cold and bad weather or in reception facilities equipped with all necessary amenities,” the royal cabinet said in a press release following a meeting chaired by King Mohammed VI has been published .
The number of homeless people is unknown
The Moroccan state will also provide “emergency aid of 30,000 dirhams (around 2,750 euros)” to the households affected by the disaster, says this source, who indicates that it is a first part of the program, which will cover around 50,000 in full or partially collapsed residential units.
The earthquake, which struck on the night of September 8-9 in Al-Haouz province, south of Marrakesh, left 2,946 dead and 5,674 injured, according to the latest official report published on Wednesday evening.
The number of homeless people as a result of this earthquake, which destroyed many houses in villages in sometimes very difficult to access mountainous regions, is unknown.
Financial aid planned
According to the royal cabinet, 140,000 dirhams (around 12,800 euros) will be allocated for “completely collapsed houses” and 80,000 dirhams (around 7,300 euros) will be used to renovate partially affected houses.
Given the scale of the disaster, Moroccan authorities have asked countries such as Spain, Britain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates to send search and rescue teams. The Red Cross has launched an appeal for donations for around 100 million euros to support relief operations.