Morocco, Japan cooperate to reinforce Kingdom’s earthquake resilience

The Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation and the National Center for Scientific and Technical Research (CNRST) launched a project entitled “Strengthening Morocco’s Resilience to Earthquakes,” aimed at reinforcing seismic monitoring networks and the country quake response ability.

Initiated in partnership with UNESCO, the project aims to “further strengthen seismic monitoring networks and the capacities of Moroccan seismic managers, assess early warning systems, and identify needs for geographical extension as well as operational and technical gaps.”

The initiative will be implemented by the CNRST through its “National Institute of Geology” (ING) division,

The project, financed by Japan to the tune of MAD 9 million, comes in response to the constraints the Kingdom faced during the Al Haouz earthquake, which highlighted the need to deepen knowledge of earthquakes and prospect the best strategies for strengthening Morocco’s resilience to cope with such disasters, CNRST said in a release.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister of Higher Education Abdellatif Miraoui said that the launch of this project was in line with the strategic goals of the “Acceleration plan for the transformation of the higher education ecosystem, scientific research and innovation (ESRI PACT 2030).”

The pact aims, among other things, to lay the foundations for excellent scientific research that meets national priorities and mobilizes the potential of international cooperation.

This collaboration between Morocco and Japan in the field of seismology promises positive results, offering the opportunity to take advantage of Japan’s world-renowned expertise and excellence in scientific advances and technological innovations, noted the Minister.

The partnership will also benefit from the valuable contribution of the Moroccan scientific community specialized in seismology and geophysics.

“Our country has a rich scientific potential thanks to two public research institutes and 21 university research structures dedicated to geophysics and geosciences,” said Miraoui.

This ecosystem, he pointed out, offers abundant opportunities for cooperation and enriching exchanges with international partners, paving the way for significant progress in the understanding and management of seismic phenomena.

For her part, CNRST Director Jamila El Alami highlighted Morocco’s expertise in managing the effects of earthquakes, pointing out that the Kingdom has a nationwide seismic monitoring and warning system, piloted by CNRST through its ING division.

A project is also underway with UNESCO on the impact of tsunamis on Moroccan coasts as part of the “Tsunami Ready” program, she added.

She noted that CNRST has become a national leader in this field through major activities involving monitoring, research, training, awareness-raising and the dissemination of knowledge in terms of seismic risk assessment and prevention, calling for closer cooperation, both nationally and internationally, to further consolidate the geophysics and seismology sector in Morocco.

The Japanese ambassador to Morocco, Kuramitsu Hideaki, indicated that this project aims to strengthen the national seismic assessment network, as well as the anti-seismic response capacities of local authorities, noting that his country has decided to support Morocco by granting a 9 million dirham envelope to UNESCO within the framework of this project.

He took the opportunity to salute the efforts made by the Moroccan authorities in dealing with the Al Haouz earthquake, pointing out that “Japan, a country where powerful aftershocks occur constantly, is well aware of the devastation caused by earthquakes”.

Eric Falt, UNESCO’s Director and Representative for the Maghreb, pointed out that the project, which will be implemented over a period of one year in close coordination with national institutions, is a continuation of the support provided by the Organization to Morocco in the field of earthquake and tsunami risk reduction, and bears witness to UNESCO’s commitment to working in concert with local players.

The project is designed to help Morocco better understand and prepare for seismic risks, through awareness-raising and educational initiatives aimed at informing and preparing the population for the risks involved, he said, adding that it also aims to strengthen the national earthquake monitoring network and raise the skill level of Moroccan professionals in seismology.