The spread of the COVID-19 in Morocco has produced a lot of goodwill as well as a stream of contributions from philanthropists both from abroad and within Morocco. Three Moroccan institutions and companies making extraordinary efforts to support the country’s economy and vulnerable sectors are ACWA Power, Morocco’s Ministry of Economy and Moroccan Food Bank, Banque Alimentaire.
1. The ACWA Power Morocco water desalination and power company operating Noor Ouarzazate Solar Complex have been working hard to assist during the COVID-19. The Southern Morocco plant purchased 47 tons of basic goods, hygienic products, disinfectants, and food items such as semolina, sugar, legumes, and oil to support the local people. So far their operation has directly helped 290 families in Ghassate village. Several other public and private companies are taking part in the movement by offering their own goods and services.
2. Morocco’s Ministry of Economy has created a special COVID-19 fund that allows individuals and legal entities to donate by making bank, cash, or check transfers to the Bank Al-Maghrib in Rabat. The fund’s creation was ordered on March 15, 2020, by King Mohammed VI and has a budget of $1 billion. The fund will be used to cover the costs of medical infrastructure and support the hard-hit sectors such as tourism. Due to the generous donations of national institutions, companies, and philanthropists, the fund has already surpassed $2.54 billion. Some of Morocco’s wealthiest people including the Minister of Agriculture Aziz Akhannouch and BMCE Bank of Africa CEO Othman Benjelloun are noted to have added $100 million each.
3. Morocco’s Food Bank, Banque Alimentaire, a nonprofit charitable organization launched a campaign to support vulnerable families after the kingdom declared a state of a health emergency. The NGO’s executive director Sanae Alaoui said that the bank is working to distribute food to struggling families and the homeless in an effort to help avoid starvation. They are covering three regions: Marrakech-Safi, Casablanca-Settat, and Rabat-Salé-Kenitra. The area has 2,400 homeless people, many of whom have already received nearly 2,000 mattresses, 300 pillows, and food; Temara and Casablanca also received 1,200 food baskets. The Food Bank is supported by NGOs, businesses, and local authorities. “There is an exceptional surge of solidarity on the part of the civil society, the agro-industrial sector and individuals that try to support us in our mission,” said Alaoui. Anyone can make a donation on the company’s Facebook page. “ We are more interested in the frequency rather than the number of individual donations. If a hundred citizens come each to donate a kilogram of flour and a can of sardines, that can make a huge difference.”