Quebec will send emergency aid of $1.5 million to Morocco, following the earthquake which struck the country last Friday, leaving more than 2,800 dead and 2,500 injured.
The Minister of International Relations and La Francophonie, Martine Biron, made the announcement Tuesday noon accompanied by representatives of each political party.
She explained that the amounts paid will be used to support Quebec international cooperation organizations (OCI) which already work in close collaboration with Moroccan partners.
The epicenter of the major earthquake which occurred during the night from Friday to Saturday was located in the province of Al Haouz, southwest of Marrakech. Several other tremors were reported.
Quebec, which has had an office in the capital of Morocco, Rabat, since 2018, has a large Moroccan diaspora: 81,000 people of Moroccan origin live in Quebec.
Morocco is one of the priority countries for Quebec’s international solidarity action, according to the press release published by Minister Biron’s office.
Furthermore, on Tuesday, the President of the National Assembly, Nathalie Roy, jointly announced with Prime Minister François Legault the lowering of the Quebec flag on the central tower of the Parliament Building.
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