After a little more than 24 hours and with the country still in shock, Day II of the post-earthquake dawns in Morocco. The day that the lives of thousands of Moroccans changed forever and in which they still cannot believe the amount of destruction that the force of nature left in the southern half of the country.
With 2,012 dead and more than 2,000 injured -1,200 seriously injured- in the latest official update, Morocco is trying to get any help so that the nightmare lasts as short as possible, something they know, It will be a tremendously long process. and difficult to digest.
Right now, NGOs from around the worldas happened with the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria just a few months ago, western governments and even some of its greatest enemies, as in the case of Algeria, are prepared to send all kinds of rescue teams to the area to find the hundreds of people who are now fighting for their lives under the rubble.
Spain sends its best men
As happened in past episodes, in the case of Syria and Türkiye seven months ago or further back in time, that of Haiti, which left a country on the edge of the precipice, this time, Spain is also collaborating shoulder to shoulder with the Moroccan authoritieseven more so taking into account the proximity between both countries -barely 13 km separate one from the other-.
The Ministry of the Interior communicated yesterday, shortly after noon with a statement, and via X (formerly Twitter) that “Civil Protection had activated international support mechanisms and put the Search and Rescue teams on pre-alert to be able to provide an immediate response. in the event that Morocco requests help”highlighting that “the first Spanish teams could be deployed within hours”
Algeria, also with the Moroccan people
But not only ‘friendly countries’ have offered to give as much help as possible to Morocco, but other ‘arch enemies’, such as Algeria, have also done so. The Algerian Prime Minister, in a show of humanity with the Moroccans, reported yesterday that it would open its airspace “for humanitarian and medical flights to Morocco.”
This decision takes on special importance after in 2021, Algeria will cut all types of ties with Morocco due to “hostile relations” between both countries. Despite this, yesterday, the Algerian government regretted with “great sadness, the consequences of the violent earthquake that has shaken Morocco overnight,” according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“Algeria expresses your deepest condolences and its most sincere solidarity with the families of the victims with the brother Moroccan people, with the wish that “the injured recover soon”pick up the text
Acts and gestures of solidarity around the world
Likewise, both the international community, led by USAlike the European Union, already reported yesterday that they are fully available to intervene in Morocco if the African country so requests.
The president of United States, Joe Biden, said he felt “deeply saddened by the devastation caused by the earthquake” and has indicated that his Administration is in contact with the Moroccan authorities to “ensure the security of all American citizens” in the country.
“We are prepared to offer all necessary assistance to the people of Morocco. “The United States supports the king, Mohamed VI – currently in France – in these difficult times,” he indicated, according to a statement from the White House.
For his part, French President Emmanuel Macron stressed that the country “is willing to “contribute to providing first aid” and stated that “we are all devastated after the terrible earthquake in Morocco.” Last night you could see the Eiffel Tower in gold tonesin memory of the victims of the Moroccan earthquake.
Like Macron, the German chancellor, Olaf Schölzlamented the tragedy and described the earthquake as “devastating“.”My thoughts are with the victims and all those affected by this natural disaster,” he stated.
Russia and Ukraine, also with Morocco
Even the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, addressed the king of Morocco to convey his condolences for what happened. “Accept my deepest condolences in relation to the earthquake that has hit the central regions of your country. We share the duel of the friendly people of Morocco,” he said before wishing a “speedy recovery to all those affected,” according to the Kremlin.
In turn, the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenski, has transferred his “most sincere condolences“to the monarch and to all Moroccans for the lives lost in the horrible earthquake.” I hope that all those injured recover quickly. Ukraine expresses solidarity in this tragic moment”has added.
Another of those who knows what it is like to suffer the consequences of such a devastating earthquake firsthand is Recep Tayyip Erdoganthe Turkish president, who noted that Ankara is ready and willing to “deliver all resources” necessary to the “Moroccan brothers and sisters”.
Finally, the The European Union also positioned itself on the Moroccan side in these hard moments. The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, conveyed his “deepest condolences to the Moroccan people and to the victims of the earthquake that hit the country last night.
At the same time he stressed that the EU “is willing to provide all assistance necessary to Morocco”, according to a message spread through his account on the social network X, formerly known as Twitter.
