On Saturday, the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Services of the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region announced the postponement of the Moroccan-Libyan Business Forum, until November. This was due to be held in the port city of Tangier.
In a press statement, the chamber specified that the forum, initiated in partnership with the General Union of Libyan Chambers of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture, and the Libyan Business Owners’ Council, was originally scheduled to be held from 20-22 September. However, it has now been rescheduled to take place between 1-3 November 2023.
The chamber indicated that the decision to postpone the forum comes in light of “emergent circumstances faced by both Morocco and Libya, following the natural disasters that struck the two nations.” It emphasized that the decision took into account the prevailing humanitarian situation in both countries.
Cities in Libya’s east, especially Derna, are in a state of panic, after a storm and subsequent floods struck the region. This has resulted in a large number of deaths, injuries, displacements, and thousands missing.
The death toll in Derna has soared to 11,300, as search efforts continue following a massive flood fed by the breaching of two dams in heavy rains, the Libyan Red Crescent said Thursday
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) announced on Tuesday that over 10,000 people remain missing due to the floods and deluge witnessed in Libya over the past two days. The organization anticipates a significant increase in the death toll.
Meanwhile, a strong earthquake, with a magnitude of 6.8 recently struck central Morocco, killing at least 1,000 people, and causing damage in several areas.
The epicenter was in the High Atlas Mountains, 71km (44 miles) southwest of Marrakesh, at a depth of 18.5km, the US Geological Survey said.