Saudi crown prince extends condolences to Morocco king after earthquake

A woman searches through the rubble in the Taroudant province, one of the most devastated in quake-hit Morocco, on September 11, 2023. (AFP)
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Updated 11 September 2023
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Saudi crown prince extends condolences to Morocco king after earthquake

  • The crown prince affirmed the Kingdom’s solidarity with Morocco and its people
  • He directed Saudi authorities to provide urgent relief and humanitarian assistance

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman expressed his condolences to Morocco’s King Mohammed VI after nearly 2,700 people died as a result of a deadly earthquake that struck his country on Friday.

During a phone call on Monday, the crown prince affirmed the Kingdom’s solidarity with Morocco and its people, and directed Saudi authorities to provide urgent relief and humanitarian assistance to mitigate the effects of the disaster.

King Mohammed expressed his thanks and appreciation for the Kingdom’s solidarity and support.

The death toll from the 6.8-magnitude quake, Morocco’s deadliest in more than six decades, rose to almost 2,700 and rescuers raced against time to find survivors on Monday.


Scouts record 45,000 volunteer hours serving pilgrims at Grand Mosque in Ramadan

Updated 52 min 59 sec ago
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Scouts record 45,000 volunteer hours serving pilgrims at Grand Mosque in Ramadan

  • Volunteers guide pilgrims, organize prayers areas, distribute water
  • 600 young men and women scouts will work until end of Ramadan

RIYADH: Volunteers participating in the Umrah service camp supervised by the Saudi Arabian Scouts Association at the Grand Mosque in Makkah have contributed over 45,000 hours during the first half of Ramadan.

Six-hundred young men and women scouts, representing various teams across the Kingdom, participated in the camp’s activities, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.

They helped to guide pilgrims, organize prayer areas, support security and service personnel, care for children, and provide water and fragrances in the Grand Mosque and its courtyards.

The scouts supported the General Authority for the Care of the Two Holy Mosques and the public security sectors.

Three-hundred scouts participated in guidance and orientation with 22,500 hours, while 180 scouts assisted with public security services for 13,500 hours.

Sixty scouts who participated in the organization of prayer areas recorded 4,500 volunteer hours.

Additionally, 30 scouts participated in the Little Pilgrim Initiative, which focuses on caring for the children of pilgrims while their parents perform Umrah, contributing 2,250 hours.

In support services, 15 scouts participated in the water distribution initiative, contributing 675 hours.

Another 15 scouts contributed to the fragrance distribution initiative in the corridors and courtyards of the Grand Mosque, achieving 1,125 hours.

Camp leader Ziyad Qadir said the services of the scouts would continue until the end of Ramadan. He said the camps develop a sense of social responsibility and national belonging among young people.