Senate passes draft law on orphans in state care

The House of Advisers (Parliament Upper House) on Monday passed a draft law on the status of "Orphans in State Care" granted early March by Morocco's King Mohammed VI to all children who lost their parents in the earthquake that struck the northern region of Al Hoceima on February 24.

Under the status, these children will benefit from the Government's financial and moral support, including education, health care as well as other benefits until they reach their majority.

The status of Orphans in State Care will help preserve the dignity of these children, adviser to the monarch, Zoulikha Nasri had said.

The tremor of a 6.3 magnitude on Richter scale killed 629 people, injured nearly 10,000 and left tens of thousands homeless.