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African Development Bank Vice President for Regional Development, Integration and Service Delivery, Marie-Laure Akin-Olugbadé, praised the “courage, dedication and work ” by Moroccan emergency teams deployed in the Al Haouz region following the devastating event. September 8 earthquake.
Akin-Olugbadé, who is in Morocco to participate in the 2023 Annual Meetings of the IMF and the World Bank, took leave to travel to Ouirgane on Tuesday, October 10, to visit one of the migrant health units. Emergency response was established to care for victims of the disaster. to relieve pressure on hospitals in Marrakech.
The earthquake killed nearly 3,000 people and injured more than 5,000.
“Our thoughts are with the victims of this earthquake,” Akin-Olugbadé said. “I am impressed by how quickly the Kingdom and the people of Morocco have worked to rebuild the country, despite the loss of loved ones.”
Morocco’s mobile health units are part of the African Development Bank’s interventions in the health sector to ensure better coverage in remote areas. Each unit provides patient-centered medical care through telemedicine with the participation of general practitioners and specialists. These units are mobilized quickly to treat injured people in emergencies.
On behalf of the African Development Bank Group, Akin-Olugbadé expressed condolences to the families of the victims. She said she was “extremely impressed” by the effectiveness of mobile medical centers and how quickly they were deployed during disasters. She also praised the “decisive leadership of King Mohammed VI”. At the Yacoub Al-Mansour dam, located 30 kilometers from the earthquake’s epicenter, Ms. Akin-Olugbade praised the efficiency and resilience of Morocco’s hydraulic infrastructure. She continued: “Morocco’s experience in dam construction and related research has allowed the country to build hydraulic infrastructures that today demonstrate their resilience, ensuring continuity of water supplies and ensuring the security of the region”.
The dam, funded by the Banking Group in 1978, supplies the drinking water treatment plant in Marrakech, meeting the needs of more than 2 million people. The African Development Bank continues to invest in the country’s public services, in collaboration with the Moroccan National Authority for Electricity and Drinking Water.
Akin-Olugbade reiterated: “The African Development Bank is committed to working with Morocco to implement new projects. “We will continue to achieve great things together.”
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