Morocco Ministers, Senior Officials Donate a Month's Salary for Quake Relief Efforts

A meeting of Moroccan cabinet members (MAP).
A meeting of Moroccan cabinet members (MAP).
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Morocco Ministers, Senior Officials Donate a Month's Salary for Quake Relief Efforts

A meeting of Moroccan cabinet members (MAP).
A meeting of Moroccan cabinet members (MAP).

Morocco's government has announced that ministers, deputy ministers, and other officials will donate one month's net salary for the relief efforts for the earthquake victims in several Moroccan provinces.

During its meeting on Thursday, the government announced that the ministers, deputy ministers, the high commissioners, the general commissioner, and the ministerial commissioner would donate a one month's net salary.

Other public servants throughout the country will donate a one day's pay for each of the next three months: September, October, and November.

The pay will be deducted from their net salary before taxes or any retirement and social security contributions.

A government statement highlighted this national solidarity effort, referencing Article 40 of the constitution, which states everyone should bear, in a spirit of solidarity and proportion to their means, the costs required for the country's development and those resulting from the burdens caused by disasters and natural catastrophes that afflict the nation.

The initiative also comes in response to Moroccan King Mohammed VI's directives to address the devastating effects of the recent earthquake.

The government lauded the spirit of solidarity and unity exhibited by the Moroccan people during these challenging times.



Lebanon Joins Middle East Green Initiative

 Prime Minister Najib Mikati sits between Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan and Environment Minister Nasser Yassin during the announcement (Office of the Prime Minister)
 Prime Minister Najib Mikati sits between Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan and Environment Minister Nasser Yassin during the announcement (Office of the Prime Minister)
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Lebanon Joins Middle East Green Initiative

 Prime Minister Najib Mikati sits between Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan and Environment Minister Nasser Yassin during the announcement (Office of the Prime Minister)
 Prime Minister Najib Mikati sits between Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan and Environment Minister Nasser Yassin during the announcement (Office of the Prime Minister)

Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister announced that the country has joined the Middle East Green Initiative, launched by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to mitigate the impact of climate change on the region.

“This is an essential step for Lebanon, especially since our southern villages and towns have been exposed to significant environmental and agricultural damage due to Israeli attacks, which requires cooperation with all of Lebanon's friends,” a statement released by the Lebanese Council of Ministers quoted Mikati as saying.

Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan welcomed Lebanon’s participation in the initiative, confirming that a high committee has been established to ensure the project’s sustainability and facilitate relevant cooperation.

He noted that the timing of the announcement “comes in light of the continued Israeli attacks on Lebanon, and this matter must be drawn to attention, especially since Israel is destroying very large areas, whether agricultural lands, fruit trees or forests.”

Environment Minister Nasser Yassin said that the Middle East Green Initiative has very important goals to plant 40 billion trees across the region and protect the Gulf and the Middle East from climate change, stop land degradation and desertification and find the means to adapt to future challenges.

The Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture estimates that more than 2.8 million square meters of forest and agricultural land were completely burned, while about 6.7 million square meters of agricultural and forest land were partially damaged as a result of Israel’s attacks and its use of internationally-banned incendiary munitions.