The United Kingdom will deliver aid totaling 1.45 million pounds to Morocco as support for the 7-magnitude earthquake that shook the Kingdom at the beginning of September, announced Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Minister of State Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon on Friday via the UK government website.
The aid aims to address both urgent needs and long-term development in the most devastated towns, in line with the Kingdom’s five-year recovery plan.
The fund will enhance partnership with farmers and cooperatives to bring high quality local agricultural goods to market while maintaining local biodiversity, in addition to providing assistance for health services and shelter.
Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon stated: “The UK is committed to supporting Morocco following the devastating earthquake last month, and this new funding will help the Moroccan–led recovery.”
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt further emphasized, “Seeing first-hand how the Moroccan people have gotten back on their feet following the devastating earthquake last month, I’m full of admiration for their strength and resilience.”
The news comes as the World Bank and IMF hold their annual meetings in Marrakech this week, with both Minister for Development and Africa Andrew Mitchell and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt in attendance.
Mitchell will meet with officials from the Global Diversity Foundation (GDF), a Lead Partner on Defra’s Darwin Initiative Challenge Fund, and other NGOs supporting the Moroccan response.
GDF, in collaboration with the Moroccan Biodiversity and Livelihoods Association (MBLA), was already working with local governments to assist sustainable agriculture in the region. They will continue and expand this long-standing cooperation, collaborating with farmers and cooperatives in damaged regions to bring high-quality local agricultural goods to market while protecting local biodiversity and assisting communities in their recovery from the earthquake.
Within the Earthquake, the UK had sent its ISAR Rescue Team to Morocco to provide emergency assistance to the affected people, alongside Spain, UAE and Qatar.
Morocco’s King Mohammed VI sent a formal thank you to the heads of the four rescue teams who have been on the ground in Morocco.
The UK also sent out the UK Emergency Medical Team (UK EMT), which assessed immediate and long-term requirements to help guide the response.