Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, the FCDO Minister of State, has announced that the United Kingdom will provide up to £1.45 million to support the recovery efforts led by Morocco following the devastating 6.8 magnitude earthquake that struck the Marrakech-Safi region on 8 September.
The funding will be utilised to address immediate needs and support long-term development in the communities most affected, in line with Morocco’s five-year recovery plan. It will not only assist in enhancing health services and providing shelter but also expand collaboration with farmers and cooperatives to promote local agricultural products of high quality while protecting local biodiversity.
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, expressed his admiration for the Moroccan people’s strength and resilience in recovering from the earthquake. He stated that the UK is always ready to assist friends in need, and the additional £1.45 million funding will aid Moroccans in rebuilding their lives.
Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, the Minister of State for Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, United Nations, and the Commonwealth, emphasised the UK’s commitment to supporting Morocco in its recovery efforts. He mentioned that the UK-Morocco partnership is flourishing, and further support stands ready to be provided.
The announcement coincides with the Annual Meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, taking place in Marrakech this week. Minister for Development and Africa, Andrew Mitchell, and Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt are both attending the event.
As part of his bilateral visit program, Minister Mitchell will meet with UK and other non-governmental organisations supporting the Moroccan response, including representatives from the Global Diversity Foundation (GDF), a Lead Partner on Defra’s Darwin Initiative challenge fund. GDF, in collaboration with the Moroccan Biodiversity and Livelihoods Association (MBLA), had already been working with local authorities to support sustainable agriculture in the region. This partnership will continue and expand, working with farmers and cooperatives in the affected areas to bring high-quality local agricultural products to the market, while also conserving local biodiversity and aiding community recovery from the earthquake.
During his visit, Chancellor Hunt will meet with the owner and other British businesspeople who have contributed to the earthquake relief effort at Le Trou Au Mur, a British-run restaurant in Marrakech’s Medina.
Immediately after the earthquake last month, the UK’s International Search and Rescue Team (UK-ISAR) was deployed to assist the Moroccan authorities in search and rescue efforts in remote areas of the Atlas Mountains, near the epicentre of the earthquake. The team provided various services, from searching for survivors among the rubble to helping vulnerable individuals evacuate buildings at risk of collapse. Additionally, the UK deployed the UK Emergency Medical Team (UK EMT) to assess immediate and long-term needs and guide the response efforts.
