Earthquake: US Treasury Secretary Trusts World Bank, IMF, Morocco to Adjust Annual Meetings

Rabat – In the aftermath of the devastating earthquake that struck central Morocco on September 8, claiming nearly 3,000 lives, the upcoming annual meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), to be held in Marrakech from October 9 to 15, have been a topic of concern. 

Despite the tragic events, the IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, World Bank President Ajay Banga, and the Moroccan Economy Minister Nadia Fettah Alaoui confirmed on Monday that the meetings would go ahead, albeit with necessary modifications to the original plans.

In response, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen expressed her trust in the World Bank, IMF, and Morocco to make appropriate adjustments to the event in light of the recent earthquake, Reuters reported.

Yellen mentioned her understanding of the potential decision to relocate the meetings and emphasized her support for any changes deemed appropriate by the IMF, World Bank, and the Moroccan government.

“I’m leaving it to the heads of the World Bank and the IMF to work with the government of Morocco and figure out what’s appropriate and possible,” she told reporters on Tuesday.

She emphasized the need to balance respect for the tragic events in Morocco and the necessity for first responders to help those affected by the earthquake. 

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Yellen acknowledged the government of Morocco’s desire for the meetings to proceed in Marrakech. “This is what the government of Morocco strongly wants. It wants the meetings to go on and feels it’s able to do what’s necessary,” she said, adding: “We want to be helpful for the people in Morocco.”

Commenting on the decision to proceed with holding the event, the IMF said in a statement on Monday that “key considerations were that the Meetings would not disrupt vital relief and reconstruction efforts and that the safety of the participants can be assured.”

The statement added that the annual meetings will be an opportunity for the international community to “stand by Morocco and its people, who have once again shown resilience in the face of tragedy.”