Marrakech – The Moroccan government is determined to move forward with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank’s annual meetings scheduled for October in Marrakech, despite the devastating earthquake that struck the region last Friday, according to sources familiar with the meeting planning.
“From the viewpoint of the Moroccan authorities, the annual meetings of the IMF and World Bank will take place as scheduled: October 9-15, 2023. There is no change of plan as of now,” Reuters quoted a source “close to the Moroccan government” as saying.
The IMF and World Bank have not officially commented on Morocco’s stance regarding the meetings.
They referred inquiries to a joint statement issued over the weekend, which expressed condolences for the loss of life and extensive damage caused by the earthquake. The statement also conveyed “our willingness to support Morocco in the best possible way,” including addressing urgent short-term financial needs.
Both institutions underscored their immediate focus on providing assistance for the disaster response.
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As of Monday, the death toll from the powerful 6.8 magnitude earthquake, which struck in the High Atlas Mountains, approximately 72 kilometers southwest of Marrakech, has reached 2,862, with over 2,500 individuals sustaining injuries.
The collapse of traditional mud brick houses into earthen rubble in the hardest-hit areas has further complicated search and rescue efforts.
While Marrakech’s ancient city center sustained some damage, the more modern parts of the city have largely escaped harm. Additionally, the site selected for the IMF and World Bank meetings, a campus of temporary structures situated on the city’s outskirts near the airport, remains largely intact, with ongoing preparations according to one of the sources.
The IMF and World Bank’s annual meetings are anticipated to draw a significant gathering of over 10,000 individuals to Marrakech. Attendees will comprise delegations from the institution’s 190 member states, as well as representatives from the media, non-profit organizations, and civil society groups. Hosting such an event necessitates comprehensive security and travel arrangements.
Read also: Government Pledges Reconstruction Program Amid Earthquake Aftermath
Originally scheduled for 2021, the meetings were postponed twice due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. The institutions choose a developing economy that has demonstrated strong economic policies and governance to host their annual meetings every three years.
This choice is intended to serve as an example for other nations to emulate, with previous hosts including Indonesia in 2018 and Peru in 2015.
In October 2018, the IMF and World Bank proceeded with their annual meetings on the Indonesian resort island of Bali, just two weeks after a 7.5-magnitude earthquake and tsunami struck Sulawesi, resulting in the loss of more than 4,300 lives.
