Morocco Pledges Swift Reconstruction After Deadly Earthquake, PM Announces

This reconstruction phase will take into account "schools, hospitals and vital infrastructure affected by the earthquake," Akhannouch announced, who chaired the fourth meeting of the interministerial commission responsible for implementing the rehabilitation and reconstruction program for the areas affected by the earthquake.

The work will be financed by the special account created on the orders of King Mohammed VI the day after the tragedy, as indicated by the Royal Cabinet in a press release. In the coming days, a series of meetings will be organized to coordinate the actions planned as part of this program. An agency will be created to ensure its effective implementation, Akhannouch added.

Mohammed VI announced last week that the kingdom will allocate 120 billion dirhams (about 11 billion euros), spread over a period of five years, to the reconstruction work in the six provinces affected by the earthquake, including Al Haouz, Azilal, Chichaoua, Marrakech, Taroudant and Ouarzazate. The work will impact a total of 4.2 million victims.

The international community has offered humanitarian aid to Morocco after the earthquake that killed nearly 3,000 people and injured more than 5,000. But for now, the kingdom has only accepted the aid of four countries, including Spain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and the United Kingdom.