Spain led the international response by sending 86 troops from UME and ERICAM

MADRID, September 10 (EUROPA PRESS) –

Morocco’s Interior Ministry has made it clear in a statement that it has only accepted the assistance offered by Spain, Britain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates in response to the earthquake that left more than 2,100 people dead on the Atlas Mountains. coverage area.

“The Moroccan authorities have responded well, during this special phase, to offers of support from friendly countries Spain, Qatar, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates, who have offered to mobilize search and rescue teams,” the ministry said in its statement. an official statement compiled by Moroccan television 2M.

Rabat justified his decision in the “proper assessment” made regarding needs after the flood and “considering that a lack of coordination in such a situation could be counterproductive.”

However, the Moroccan Government does not rule out requesting assistance from other countries if necessary: ​​“As the intervention operation progresses, an evaluation of possible needs may develop, allowing the use of offers of support made by other countries. countries, friends, according to the specific needs of each stage”.

Additionally, he also expressed “gratitude” for the offer of “availability to provide assistance and assistance in these special circumstances.”

SEND RESCUE AND ASSISTANCE TEAM

Spain has sent 86 soldiers, a team from the Military Emergency Unit (UME) consisting of 56 soldiers and four dogs took off this morning from Zaragoza Air Base to Marrakesh and a second contingent with 30 members of the Special Emergency and Immediate Response Unit of the Community of Madrid (ERICAM) and four dogs from a special search and rescue team.

An emergency team from England’s West Midlands also left this Sunday for Morocco. “There are a lot of people who need help and a lot of people who are waiting for us,” the director of the UK branch of the Faizan Global Aid Foundation, Syed Muhammad Faisal Sami, explained to the BBC from Birmingham.

“We have experience in Turkey and Syria and other countries and we know what they need. “I hope the distribution can start tomorrow,” said Faisal.

One volunteer, Mohammed Sameer Hussain, explained that they would coordinate their work with emergency teams and Moroccan volunteers. “They have told us that right now all it is doing is saving lives,” he said. “When we get there tomorrow we have to find out what the urgent needs are and start distributing aid,” he said.

British NGO UK-Med is also preparing to send an aid team to Morocco, said an official with the organisation, David Wightwick. The goal is to reach the most difficult to access areas of the Atlas mountains.

“We will look at how we can provide health services,” Wightwick told the BBC. First, they will evaluate the feasibility of deploying a large field hospital. They are also in contact with UN agencies and the Moroccan Ministry of Health, as well as hospitals and communities in the region.

HELP FROM QATAR AND EMIRATES

Meanwhile, the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Zani, has ordered the sending of rescue teams to Morocco and emergency medical assistance, as reported by Qatar’s official news agency, QNA.

Al Zani also expressed his condolences to King Mohamed VI and the Moroccan “brotherhood.” “I pray to Allah SWT to give His mercy to the victims and provide healing to the injured victims. “May Allah protect Morocco and its people from all evil,” he said in a message broadcast on X, formerly Twitter.

On Saturday itself, the Qatari government contacted Moroccan authorities to offer them “all necessary assistance to the affected areas and to support the recovery of all earthquake impacts.” Qatar Charity also announced a donation of 5 million Qatari reais (approximately 1.28 million euros) and aid of one million reais through the Qatar Red Crescent.

Meanwhile, the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al Nahyan, has ordered the creation of an air bridge to send humanitarian aid and other means to Morocco.

In particular, Dubai’s Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid al Maktoum has ordered the dispatch of rescue teams and the transportation of humanitarian aid to the area.