The government and people of Taiwan extended their sincere condolences to Morocco following the magnitude 6.8 earthquake that hit near the southwestern city of Marrakech and caused over 2,000 deaths, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sept. 10.
In the aftermath of the disaster, the MOFA announced a donation of US$500,000 to the North African country to help with disaster relief and reconstruction efforts. The donation will be sent via a third country, as Taiwan and Morocco do not currently have diplomatic ties, the ministry said.
The MOFA also extended Taiwan’s sympathies via social media posts and expressed support and concern to Morocco’s official representatives in France after the quake, the ministry said, adding that a search and rescue team from Taiwan’s National Fire Agency stands ready to assist if needed.
According to Taiwan’s representative office in the south of France, no Taiwan nationals or expatriates have been reported as harmed or otherwise affected by the quake so far. The MOFA will continue to monitor the situation and urged those traveling or living in Morocco to stay on high alert, the ministry said, adding that those who need emergency assistance should call the office in Aix-en-Provence.
In a tweet on its official Twitter account, the MOFA said, “Having experienced the devastation of major earthquakes, #Taiwan empathizes with #Morocco during these challenging times. In the #TaiwanCanHelp spirit, we announce a donation of US$500,000 to support relief efforts.” (YCH-E)
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