Aid and assistance to mitigate the disaster caused by the earthquake in Morocco. The feeling of solidarity was automatic in the heart of the international community (Switzerland, Germany, Portugal and a long et cetera), the Spanish Government, the autonomous communities, the mayors of the big cities, the associations of Moroccans resident in Spain and the ’emergency, in cases of rescuing people trapped under the debris, they offered to collaborate and mitigate the effects of the earthquake as soon as possible pending proper coordination.
Major world powers expressed condolences and offered assistance, although the most symbolic reaction is that of Morocco’s neighboring country, Algeria, with which diplomatic relations are virtually non-existent. Sources from the Algerian presidency announced yesterday that the country would open the airspace towards Morocco, closed since 2021, for flights that transport assistance teams and humanitarian material to the affected populations, as well as to transfer the wounded to Algerian hospitals if the case occurs. “We are ready to provide what is necessary in terms of humanitarian aid and to mobilize all human means in solidarity with the Moroccan people.” From Spain, the Ministry of the Interior, through the general direction of Civil Protection and Emergencies, activated the International Support Committee yesterday “to be able to give an immediate response in case the Moroccan authorities request help ” after the earthquake. The organization has already contacted the military emergency unit (UME) and the Community of Madrid, the two organizations that have internationally certified USAR teams (search and rescue in urban areas), for possible deployment.
“If the request for help arrives, both bilaterally and through the European Civil Protection Mechanism, the first Spanish teams could be deployed on the ground in a matter of hours”, they added from the ministry.
The president of the Generalitat of Catalonia, Pere Aragonès, expressed his “condolences to the victims and to all the Moroccan people. The Government is at the disposal of those affected and local authorities and we have activated the humanitarian aid at our disposal to alleviate this catastrophe”, wrote Aragonès on social networks.
The mayor of Barcelona, ??Jaume Collboni, announced that he has “activated to help in coordination with the Generalitat and the Government of Spain in everything that can be useful”. The mayors of Tarragona, Rubén Viñuales; Felix Larrosa, from Lleida; and Lluc Salellas, from Girona, also showed solidarity and help.
At the same time, Moroccan people and associations established in Catalonia were mobilizing and organizing everything as soon as they heard that there had been an earthquake to determine what basic necessities the victims needed, in principle, blankets, sheets and clothes.
In addition, associations of firefighters from various parts of Spain have made part of their forces available to the authorities to help with rescue tasks.
According to data from the National Institute of Statistics dated January 1, 2022, Catalonia is the Spanish community with the most citizens born in Morocco of the 984,682 in total, with 257,118 residents, followed by Andalusia ( 188,973) and the Valencian Community (100,167).
