The European Investment Bank (EIB), the lending arm of the European ‌Union, said on Friday it had loaned another 500 million Euros ($578 million) to Morocco for infrastructure upgrading ⁠in areas hit by an earthquake three years ago.

The 6.8-magnitude earthquake, Morocco’s deadliest since 1960, struck on September 8, 2023, killing more than 2 900 people and damaging vital ‌infrastructure ⁠and many mountain villages south of the city of Marrakech.

The new loan brings the EIB’s ⁠financing for Morocco’s earthquake recovery efforts to 1 billion Euros ($1.15 billion), it ⁠said in a statement.

The financing will support essential ⁠infrastructure, including roads, schools and healthcare facilities.

–Reuters–