US pledges $12.6 million to help Morocco recover from earthquake

The US, through USAID, is supporting Morocco's long-term recovery from the September 8 Al Haouz earthquake with a $12.6 million program. This comes after the quake killed over 2,960 people and destroyed 60,000 homes.

Morocco, led by King Mohammed VI, outlined a five-year plan for rebuilding affected areas. The US Ambassador to Morocco, Puneet Talwar, emphasized his commitment to helping Morocco recover, mentioning initial emergency aid and ongoing support for rebuilding livelihoods.

USAID initially provided $1 million for early relief efforts, like giving essential supplies to affected communities, reads a press release by the US Embassy on Tuesday.

Now, they're working with various partners on projects, including helping impacted households access government cash assistance through a program with UNICEF.

The efforts also include offering direct cash support to earthquake-affected cooperatives, funding local organizations providing recovery support in the Marrakech-Safi region and supporting infrastructure reconstruction and economic recovery in the Azilal province.

The US is committed to assisting Morocco's reconstruction plan and exploring further partnerships to strengthen the resilience of Moroccan communities.