The International Monetary Fund and World Bank decided in 2018 to host their annual meeting in Marrakech, Morocco, bringing the affair to the African continent for the first time in 50 years. Their original timeline was delayed by the pandemic, but the meeting beginning Monday arrives at an apropos time. Those challenges are particularly pronounced in Africa, where many countries spend more on debt than health care and education combined. The earthquake, residents say, exacerbated disparities plaguing rural areas and compounded struggles facing already-impoverished communities. “Here’s it’s hidden behind.”___AP reporters Paul Wiseman in Washington and Yassine Oulhiq in Anerni, Morocco, contributed to this report.

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Persons: Kristalina Georgieva, they've, ”, Iskander Erzini Vernoit, Morocco —, Brahim Ait Brahim —, he's, Ait Brahim, “, Paul Wiseman, Yassine Organizations: Monetary Fund, World Bank, IMF, Bank, Climate & Development, That’s Locations: MARRAKECH, Morocco, Marrakech, Ukraine, Africa, Egypt, Zambia, Anerni, That’s Marrakech, It’s, Washington