Nairobi News

Following a high powered working session that was chaired  by His Majesty King Mohammed VI and accompanied by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan, it was agreed upon that there would be a number of relief efforts that would be carried out expeditiously as part of the government’s intervention and mitigation following the 6.8 magnitude earthquake experienced in the Atlas Mountain range.

Also read: WATCH: Kiss, Hug, or High Five? Kindergarten teacher on the spot for kissing kids

Uasin Gishu County Fiesta edition thrills locals

According to a press release from the Royal Morocco Office sent to Nairobi News, the sole focus would be reinforcing the national blood stock, supplying drinking water to affected areas, distributing food kits, tents and blankets to the affected population and quickly resuming public services. The King gave further gave the following seven instructions:

1. Immediately set up an inter-ministerial commission in charge of carrying out an emergency rehabilitation and aid program to reconstruct as soon as possible the destroyed homes in the affected areas.
2. Provide care to people in distress, notably orphans and vulnerable people.
3. Provide immediate care to all people who found themselves without shelter following the earthquake, notably in terms of housing, food and other basic needs.
4. Encourage economic operators for a quick resumption of activities in the areas concerned.
5. Open a special bank account at Treasury and Bank Al Maghrib to receive the voluntary solidarity contributions of citizens as well as private and public instructions.
6. Ensure the full mobilization of the Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity, with all its components, to support citizens in affected areas.
7. Create reserves and stocks of basic necessities (medicines, tents, beds, food…etc.) in every region of the Kingdom to prepare for any type of disaster.

“It was also decided to observe three days of national mourning, with the half-masting of national flags on all public facilities. His Majesty the King, Commander of the Faithful, also gave His High Instructions to the Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs to perform the Absent Prayer (Salat Al Ghaib) in all mosques throughout the Kingdom, for the repose of the victims’ souls,” added the statement.

The King also expressed the sincere thanks of the kingdom of Morocco to all  countries that expressed their solidarity and readiness to provide aid for Moroccan people affected by the earthquake.

In a prior Nation.Africa report, entire villages vanished in rubbles and a mess of timber, stones and furnishings.

Harambee Starlets striker, Violent Nanjala, an international football player who signed with Club Municipal de Laayoune in the Moroccan Women League, told Nairobi News of her experience when the earthquake hit.

“I found a lot of missed calls and messages from people back home and that is not normal I did not know what happened the previous night until I went through the messages. We live in different rooms at the club’s residential area. The first thing I did when I woke up was visit my fellow platers to understand what was happening… It’s so scary because the numbers (of the dead) are rising each day, I now can’t stay alone because I’m just shaking,” said Ms Nanjala.

As of Monday, September 11, 2023 at 1pm, the death toll from the Atlas Mountain earthquake stood at approximately 2,122 people.