2023-09-11 09:17:16
Search and rescue teams from Spain and Great Britain have started operating in the earthquake zones in Morocco. They are supporting the local emergency services, the Moroccan news agency MAP reported on Monday. In addition to the rescue operations, NGOs began to provide assistance to the population affected by the severe destruction. Humanitarian aid and psychological support are also urgently needed, according to Care International.
Britain sent 60 search and rescue experts with equipment and four search dogs to Morocco to support the Moroccan-led operations, British Ambassador Simon Martin announced on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). A special Spanish military unit with search dogs also flew to Morocco on Sunday.
France is supporting the use of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the country with five million euros, Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna told broadcaster BFMTV in Paris on Monday. The aid should benefit local Moroccan, international and French aid organizations. Morocco initially did not respond to France’s offer to send rescue workers to the earthquake-stricken region. This caused a lot of discussion in France, where many Moroccans live.
Colonna rejected the idea that tensions between the two countries could be the reason for this. Morocco is a sovereign country and initially decided to seek help from other countries. Over 60 countries have offered support and France remains available to provide short and medium-term assistance, the minister said. French Interior Minister Gérald Darman told broadcaster TF 2 that he did not believe there were political reasons behind not accepting French aid. “Morocco and France are two brother countries.” Morocco has good civil defense and is able to take control of the situation itself.
Meanwhile, the French Interior Minister did not want to confirm that Morocco’s King Mohammed VI. was in France during the earthquake. The newspaper “Le Parisien” had reported that the king had been in France since September 1st for medical reasons.
Although several countries, including Austria and Germany, offered assistance, Morocco initially only accepted support from four countries. The Interior Ministry said late on Sunday evening that the authorities had carried out a precise assessment of the needs. It was taken into account that a lack of coordination in such situations would lead to adverse results, reported the Moroccan news site Hespress. Therefore, they initially “responded to the offers of support from the friendly countries of Spain, Qatar, Great Britain and the United Arab Emirates,” the statement continued.
The situation is still confusing, with more than 2,000 deaths already, and “over 1,200 people are in critical health,” Care reported in a release. “The last few nights in Morocco have been terrible. Hundreds of people are sleeping on the streets or lying in parks with blankets because they are afraid to go home. People are exhausted. In addition to the enormous physical devastation, there is also the emotional damage, caused by the horror and fear experienced,” said Hlima Razkaoui, Secretary General of Care Morocco.
Thousands of people not only lost everything, but also suffered severe trauma. “It is now important to support people not only with humanitarian assistance such as food, water, shelter and hygiene products, but also psychologically. We know from other earthquake operations that it is crucial to meet basic needs. For recovery after However, in such disasters, processing is also essential and this can take months, if not years,” Razkaoui said.
The need for relief supplies in the quake region in the Atlas Mountains is great. According to the Moroccan Red Crescent, there is a lack of shelter, food and clean drinking water. The Austrian Red Cross could help with WASH (“Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion”) tools should support be requested, said Michael Opriesnig, Secretary General of the Austrian Red Cross. He warns against traveling to the quake area to help yourself: “The danger is too great, and people from outside who have to be accommodated and fed represent an additional burden for aid organizations.”
According to the Austrian Foreign Ministry, there are currently around 130 registered travelers from Austria in Morocco (as of Monday morning) – so the number of holidaymakers who register has increased somewhat, as is usually the case after such events. “Fortunately, we still have no information that any of them were injured,” said a spokeswoman in response to an APA request. The Foreign Ministry is in constant contact with Austrian nationals if necessary and provides support in finding transport options and with questions about security in Morocco.
(SERVICE – Donation accounts – CARE Austria: AT77 6000 0000 0123 6000 – Hilfewerk International: AT71 6000 0000 9000 1002 – Austrian Red Cross: AT57 2011 1400 1440 0144 – Doctors Without Borders: AT43 2011 1289 2684 7600 – Youth One World: AT66 3600 0000 0002 4000 )
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