“I wish to inform Your Excellency that the Islamic Development Bank Group is ready to contribute to the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Haiti by using resources from the Islamic Development Bank Wakf Fund,” wrote Muhammad Ali in his letter.

He asked the secretary- general to designate a UN officer with whom the IDB could consult and coordinate, adding that the earthquake has horrified all of the IDB’s 56-country members.

“Although the Republic of Haiti is not a IDB member country, given the scale of the human tragedy, the bank is duty bound to make an exceptional humanitarian gesture,” the president wrote in his letter. The president did not reveal the amount of monetary aid that will be given but it is believed this will be decided by the IDB’s executive board, which began meetings in Rabat, Morocco, on Sunday.  The board will also discuss the financing of development projects for a number of member countries and Muslim communities in nonmember countries.

The bank has financed 73 projects in Morocco costing $1.7 billion and has also financed foreign trade operations for the Kingdom at the tune of more than $1.8 billion.