An update on the offer of assistance made to Morocco
From France to the United States to Israel, countries around the world have offered their assistance to Morocco, which was affected by a devastating earthquake that killed at least 2,000 people.
Spain announced it was sending two teams of 86 rescuers in total to Morocco on Sunday, accompanied by eight dogs specialized in searching for victims, after receiving an official request for help from Rabat.
United States Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer said his country had done so “made it clear to the Moroccan government that it is ready to provide significant assistance”. “We have search and rescue teams ready to deploy” And “We are also ready to release funds at the right time”he added.
“The US Agency for International Development, which is leading our efforts, is mobilizing, and we are waiting for the Moroccan government to tell us how best to help”stated American Secretary of State Antony Blinken on ABC.
Emmanuel Macron reports that Paris has done so “mobilize all technical and security teams to be able to intervene when the Moroccan authorities deem it useful”.
“When this assistance is requested, it will be deployed (…). Now, it is clearly up to the Moroccan authorities to take decisions based on their assessments on the ground and for this to be done well.”he insisted.
A team of volunteer firefighters from the Lyon region arrived in Morocco on Sunday to participate in rescue operations about fifty kilometers from Marrakesh, according to authorities. They were accompanied by a dog handler with his dog.
Meanwhile, the French Secours populaire group announced that some of its leaders would go there on Monday for a “Solidarity Mission”and the disbursement of 100,000 euros for the victims.
Switzerland offers temporary shelter, water treatment and distribution equipment, sanitation facilities and cleaning supplies. The Swiss Foreign Ministry said late Saturday it had not received a response to the proposal.
Belgian Defense announced on Saturday that its overseas emergency aid coordination service was activated to respond to a request for assistance from Moroccan authorities. No such request has been made public.
The Flemish region, Belgium’s most populous and where there is a large Moroccan community, announced aid of 200,000 euros through the Red Cross. Wallonia, for its part, has vowed to let it go “immediate aid of 500,000 euros”.
Italy offered help from civil protection agencies and firefighters, while the Italian Catholic Church sent 300,000 euros through Caritas Italy.
Turkey on Saturday offered to send 265 rescuers and 1,000 tents, but no response from Morocco has been announced at this stage.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has indicated that his country does “ready to offer any assistance needed, including rescue teams”.
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu announced this “The State of Israel will provide all possible assistance to Morocco, including, if desired, search and rescue teams”.
His Iraqi counterpart, Mohamed Chia Al-Soudani, also said the same thing “ready to provide any form of assistance” while King Abdullah II of Jordan ruled his government “to provide all necessary assistance to Morocco”.
Qatar has announced that rescue teams will leave Doha on Saturday evening.
Mr. Macron, at the end of the G20 Summit in New Delhi, signed contracts with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Comorian President Azali Assoumani who currently serves as chairman of the African Union, and the leaders of the World Bank, the international community Monetary Fund, and the leaders of the European Commission, a joint declaration promising just that “providing all necessary assistance for immediate short-term needs and reconstruction efforts”.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has released one million Swiss francs ($1.1 million) from its Emergency Disaster Response Fund to support the work of the Moroccan Red Crescent.
Pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca has announced it will do so “paid more than a million dollars to support immediate relief efforts with the world’s premier non-profit humanitarian partners, but also to provide donations to employees in need”.