Join on WhatsApp 
Join on Telegram Rabat – Mustafa Baytas, Minister Delegate for Relations with Parliament and the spokesman of the government, confirmed on Friday that monthly compensation will be paid to the Al Haouz earthquake victims once the government receives the regulations for the census that is currently being conducted in the affected areas.
According to the planned emergency financial assistance programme, MAD 2,500 ($243) per month will be paid to the families identified in the regulations for a period of 12 months.
The cost of this emergency assistance to families and for reconstruction is estimated to be MAD 8 billion ($778 million).
Speaking at a joint meeting of the finance committees of the House of Representatives and House of Advisors on Friday, Baytas said that Morocco was able to effectively address the devastating aftermath of the September 8 earthquake thanks to the patriotic mobilization and cooperation of the parliament, the government, the Moroccan people, and friends of Morocco.
He went on to note that “the government responded to the directives of His Majesty the King, and despite the successes, external voices tried to undermine the depth of the effort, and it was clear that there was no objectivity or professionalism” in the criticism some directed at Morocco’s relief efforts in the aftermath of the tragic September 8 earthquake.
Regarding the media coverage of the Al Haouz earthquake, Baytas stressed that Morocco was open to all platforms, regardless of the country to which they belong.
Read also: Morocco, Germany Unite for Earthquake Relief and Economic Cooperation
As many 312 foreign journalists were quickly accredited to cover the earthquake and Morocco’s response to its tragic aftermath, Baytas said, noting that 78 of the accredited journalists were French. There were 16 French outlets that applied for accreditation, and 13 of them were swiftly given the green light to cover the tragedy.
No platform was subjected to any kind of restrictions, Baytas explained, adding: “There were professional gaps, but did not make our country budge with regard to granting freedom of expression.”
Of the much-reported expulsion of two French journalists earlier this week, Baytas pointed out that two French citizens were sent back because they tried to reach Al-Haouz without a permit, under the guise of tourism, and did not identify themselves as journalists.
Speaking about the solidarity of Moroccans, Baytas said: “Many lessons have been learned by Moroccans in solidarity with those affected.”
He concluded that “the government’s response was swift, as several meetings of inter-ministerial committees were held under the leadership of His Majesty the King.”
