US Pledges $5.7 Million in COVID-19 Aid to Morocco, Boosting Long-Term Investment

According to the State Department, this aid includes $4 million from the Economic Support Fund (ESF) to help marginalized and vulnerable populations in urban and rural areas through a cash transfer program. The envelope also includes "$1.7 million for health assistance". This fund will be used to support experts, strengthen risk communication. "This is aid that builds on long-term U.S. investments in Morocco of over $2.6 billion over the past 20 years, including $64.5 million for the health sector," the State Department said before stressing that "since the outbreak of this health crisis, the U.S. government has mobilized more than $775 million in emergency health, humanitarian, economic and development assistance to help governments, international organizations and NGOs."

According to the same source, "this funding, provided by Congress, will save lives by improving public health education, protecting health facilities and increasing disease surveillance laboratory capacities in more than 120 countries."