RGA/5/6
Sponsored by Joaquin Panelo, Nathaniel Watson of Father Ryan High School
The delegates above represented the Delegation of Morocco.
This legislation was filed in the Social, Humanitarian and Cultural category
Presented as part of the MUN B 2023 conference
| 1 | Lamenting the tragic events of September 8, 2023, when a magnitude 6.8 earthquake devastated |
| 2 | the country of Morocco. |
| 3 | |
| 4 | Mourning that around 2,000 people have died and 5,500 have been injured. In particular, the Al |
| 5 | Haouz region, located in the Atlas Mountains, was the hardest hit, with over 1,600 deaths. |
| 6 | |
| 7 | Alarmed that an estimated 380,000 people have been displaced because of the earthquake. Many |
| 8 | are homeless, tens of thousands are currently living in government camps, |
| 9 | |
| 10 | Recognizing that entire villages, such as Tafeghaghte, Tenzert, and Imi N’Tala, have been leveled |
| 11 | to the ground, and many more have sustained significant damage. |
| 12 | |
| 13 | Aware that many deaths resulted from the Moroccan architecture style of buildings. Many homes |
| 14 | in rural areas are built of brittle-mud, which were insufficient to withstand an earthquake of such |
| 15 | magnitude, |
| 16 | |
| 17 | Acknowledging that many deaths also resulted from inadequate earthquake safety training. The |
| 18 | people of Morocco were inadequately trained on how to respond during an earthquake, resulting in |
| 19 | many needless deaths. |
| 20 | |
| 21 | Noting that Morocco has suffered great economic downturn as it is expected to lose 8% of its GDP |
| 22 | directly as a result of the earthquake. Morocco’s tourism industry, a major source of income |
| 23 | already hit hard by the Covid-19 Pandemic, has contracted even further, as many tourist sites, |
| 24 | attractions, and ventures have been damaged by the earthquake. |
| 25 | |
| 26 | Recalling the affirmation by UN Secretary-General AntOnio Guterres that the UN was ready to |
| 27 | “assist the government [of Morocco] in any way needed,” |
| 28 | |
| 29 | Emphasizing that the UN has provided such earthquake relief before, releasing $50 million from |
| 30 | its’ Central Emergency Response Fund, and issuing a flash appeal of 1 billion dollars in aid for the |
| 31 | Earthquake in Turkey and Syria in February of 2023. |
| 32 | |
| 33 | Affirming that a similar response is needed in Morocco. |
| 34 | |
| 35 | Warning that Morocco is prone to more earthquakes, as Morocco lies along the Azores-Gibraltar |
| 36 | Transform Fault.’ As such, Morocco has suffered 7 earthquakes with a magnitude of 5 and above in |
| 37 | just the past century. |
| 38 | |
| 39 | Concluding that measures must taken to mitigate inevitable future earthquake disasters. |
| 40 | |
| 41 | We the Delegation of Morocco Hereby: |
| 42 | |
| 43 | Ask the international community to support Morocco in its dire time of need. This is a humanitarian |
| 44 | crisis, and as such, it is the duty of its fellow member countries to offer assistance to its fellow |
| 45 | global citizens. |
| 46 | |
| 47 | Requests the creation of a fund of $150 million to support those displaced by the disaster. This will |
| 48 | fund temporary housing, food assistance, available water, and health services for those displaced. |
| 49 | |
| 50 | Mobilizing the UN World Food Programme to offer its assistance in Morocco. The WFP will ensure |
| 51 | the 380,000 displaced will be adequately fed. |
| 52 | |
| 53 | Establishes 3 temporary camps to hold those displaced. Each camp will be equipped to hold a |
| 54 | maximum of 10,000 people. These camps will distribute medical assistance, food, and water. |
| 55 | |
| 56 | Asks the UN to appropriate a further $20 million for future earthquake disaster mitigation. $10 |
| 57 | million will be appropriated to educate local citizens on the process of constructing more |
| 58 | earthquake-resistant homes and buildings. Citizens will be educated on how to implement |
| 59 | construction methods that would make buildings more earthquake resistant. Construction methods |
| 60 | such as building thicker walls, using circular structures, and constructing with a stronger building |
| 61 | material, are effective and affordable measures for the average Moroccan. The rest of the $20 |
| 62 | million will be provided to assist the Moroccan government in educating their citizens on proper |
| 63 | earthquake safety training. |
| 64 | |
| 65 | Requests the UNESCO to send 2 teams to the World Heritage Sites of the Medina at Marrakesh and |
| 66 | the Mosque at Tinmel to assess damage and make preparations for repairs. Conducting repairs to |
| 67 | these sites would aid in reviving Morocco’s tourist industry. |
| 68 | |
| 69 | Expresses the desire for this resolution to go into effect immediately following its passing. |
| 70 | |
| 71 |