International aid has begun to mobilize to collaborate in the search for survivors and in the work of clearing debris in the areas affected by the earthquake that devastated the region of Marrakech, southern Morocco, on Friday, and which has claimed the lives of more of 2,100 people, according to the latest counts.
Rescue teams have begun to deploy, after Morocco has accepted help from four countries: Spain, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. According to sources from the Ministry of Defense, Spain activated the operation after Morocco officially requested help from the acting Government. Thus, from Zaragoza, an urban search and rescue team (USAR) from the military emergency unit (UME) is already in Morocco, made up of 56 soldiers and 4 dogs to collaborate in the search and rescue of survivors of the devastating earthquake.
According to the Spanish Ministry of the Interior, the General Directorate of Civil Protection and Emergency is coordinating the deployment of a total of 65 UME troops, to which additional teams from autonomous communities may be added. A team of 30 people from the special emergency and immediate response unit of the Community of Madrid (Ericam) is also expected to travel in the next few hours, made up of firefighters and Summa112 personnel, along with canine guides and four rescue dogs.
In parallel, five firefighters from the Malaga City Council will join the rescue team organized by the NGO Firefighters Without Borders.
From New Delhi, several G-20 leaders have reiterated to Morocco their willingness to provide “urgent” aid in the short term for recovery after the earthquake.
“Together with all our international partners, we stand with Morocco to provide all necessary support for any urgent short-term financial needs and reconstruction efforts,” said a joint statement published by the European Union (EU) on the sidelines of the summit. of the G-20 being held in India. In the statement, the leaders assure that they will mobilize technical assistance “in a coordinated manner to help the people of Morocco overcome this terrible tragedy.”
The European Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarcic, has reiterated the EU’s willingness to collaborate and, at the request of Morocco, “to activate the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to help national first responders with any type of aid.” that they need from Europe.” The commissioner noted that the EU is following “closely” the development of events in Morocco in the face of the consequences of the “deadly earthquake.”
However, a Moroccan diplomatic source explained yesterday that, after accepting the participation of rescue teams from Spain, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, the Maghreb country does not currently need other types of help.
The source has expressed gratitude to the countries that have offered help and has stated that Morocco is following a “responsible, rigorous and effective approach” to manage demands for international support, linking them to the needs that arise on the ground.
Thus, for example, he has assured that they do not need tents, so “it would be useless to manage tent warehouses when there is no need”, to which he added that it is possible that his country accepts other types of offers of help if necessary.
To facilitate the arrival of international aid, Algeria has decided to open its airspace – closed two years ago – to humanitarian flights to Morocco, a decision that has been praised by the Arab League.
