A devastating earthquake struck Morocco’s Al Haouz region on September 8, 2023, claiming over 3,000 lives and leaving thousands homeless. In response, the government has committed more than MAD 800 million (around $79.29 million) to restore and enhance healthcare services in the affected areas.
Health Minister Amine Tahraoui, speaking at the House of Councillors on New Year’s Day, detailed the plan to repair, restore, and expand 195 healthcare facilities damaged by the disaster. “These facilities are part of an emergency repair and restoration initiative, coupled with a broader recovery plan involving construction, expansion, and renovation projects in the affected areas,” Tahraoui explained.
The magnitude 6.8 earthquake, the strongest ever recorded in Morocco, caused widespread destruction, particularly impacting healthcare infrastructure and complicating access to medical services for the affected communities.
Authorities have stated that this renovation effort aligns with a larger strategy to improve healthcare nationwide through infrastructure upgrades, with an overall investment estimated at MAD 818 million ($81 million).