Morocco has announced the launch of an aid programme to support and rehouse the residents of about 50,000 buildings damaged in last week's devastating earthquake.
The magnitude 6.8 tremor - the country's strongest on record - has killed nearly 3,000 people and injured more than 5,600 since it hit last Friday in Al-Haouz province, south of tourist hub Marrakesh.
Those left homeless will be provided with temporary shelter in "structures designed to withstand cold and bad weather, or in reception sites equipped with all the necessary amenities", the royal office said in a statement following a meeting chaired by King Mohamed VI.
The Moroccan authorities have ordered that urgent aid of 30,000 dirhams (€7,600) be paid to households affected by the disaster, the statement added.
It said this would form the first stage of a programme covering some 50,000 homes that had fully or partially collapsed in the quake.
The number of people left without homes by the tremor, which has devastated numerous entire villages in Morocco's Atlas mountain region, is not known.
The royal office said 140,000 dirhams (€35,800) would be allocated for homes that were completely collapsed, in addition to 80,000 dirhams (€20,500) to rebuild partially collapsed structures.
Morocco has allowed rescue teams to come to its aid from Spain, the UK, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
But it has so far declined offers from several other countries, including the United States, France, Germany and some Middle Eastern nations, allowing in only a select few rescue teams.
The German Red Cross (DRK) said it had been forced to cancel a plan to deliver aid to Morocco.
"For reasons beyond our control ... new rules and regulations announced at short notice have made it impossible for the plane to take off today," the DRK said, without giving further details.
"We deeply regret these developments because the people on the ground urgently need help," it added.
The German flight to Morocco was scheduled to depart from Leipzig airport today, the DRK said, adding that it was working "at full speed" to "address the delay".
The Red Cross launched an appeal earlier this week o raise $100 million (€94m) to support the relief effort.
