Belgium to send aid to earthquake-hit Morocco

BRUSSELS

Belgium is preparing to send cash and in-kind aid to Morocco following the earthquake disaster, the country's development minister said on Sunday.

Federal Minister for Development Cooperation Caroline Gennez announced on X/Twitter that €5 million ($5.3 million) have been allocated for earthquake relief and reconstruction.

Gennez also said that a medical unit made up of members of the Belgian Emergency Response Team (B-FAST) was being prepared to be sent in case of a request from Morocco.

Meanwhile, an account number has also been set up for donations to the Red Cross.

The municipalities of Brussels, Evere, Koekelberg, Molenbeek, Anderlecht and Sint-Gillis, where the Moroccan population lives, have started to organize relief operations.

From next Tuesday, supplies such as tents, mattresses, hygiene products, blankets and even emergency generators will be collected at a warehouse in Anderlecht.

Around 500,000 people of Moroccan origin live in Belgium, a country of 11.5 million inhabitants.

At least 2,012 people were killed and 2,059 injured in the quake that struck the North African country late Friday.

Fatalities from the magnitude 7 tremor occurred in various regions, including El-Houz, Taroudant, Chichaoua, Tiznit, Marrakech, Azilal, Agadir, Casablanca and Youssoufia.