Morocco accepts support from four countries after earthquake and announces special fund to lead Kremlin candidates in regional elections in Russia

After the major earthquake, Morocco initially wants to benefit from aid offers from Spain, Qatar, Great Britain and the United Arab Emirates. A response to the offer from the team of the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit was still pending.

As the Moroccan Interior Ministry said late Sunday evening, after thorough investigations, authorities had “responded to offers of support from friendly countries Spain, Qatar, Britain and the United Arab Emirates.” The teams contacted their Moroccan colleagues on Sunday. The government welcomes all solidarity initiatives from different countries, it said.

The Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs (EDA) had assembled an eight-member team from the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Corps. Authorities in the North African country have not yet responded to the offer of aid, an EDA spokesperson said late Sunday evening in response to a request from the Keystone-SDA news agency. The team is ready for action.

Saudi Arabia wants to support Morocco with an air bridge after the earthquake

A little later it was announced that Saudi Arabia would also support Morocco in absorbing the consequences of the major earthquake. King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have ordered the creation of an airlift to deliver aid to Morocco, state news agency SPA reported late on Sunday evening. The two Arab countries traditionally maintain friendly relations. According to a report in the newspaper “Arab News,” a Saudi search and rescue team is said to be supporting local rescuers.

Germany and the US are also waiting for an answer

It is not yet known whether Germany has also been asked for help. German organizations, such as the Federal Agency for Technical Assistance, have therefore temporarily sent the employees they made available home. Emergency services had been ready for a possible rescue mission since Saturday evening, THW announced on Sunday afternoon. The aid organization ISAR Germany and the Federal Association of Rescue Dogs had previously announced that they no longer expected their helpers present in Morocco to be rescued.

For the US, for example, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Sunday that the administration had mobilized the relevant authorities and was now ready for action. “And we are now waiting for news from the Moroccan government to find out how and where we can help. But we are ready to go,” he said in an interview with CNN.

The Moroccan government announces a special fund for earthquake relief

Meanwhile, the Moroccan government has announced a special relief fund for the distressed population. This was partly intended to cover the costs of securing damaged homes, news site Hespress reported, citing a government spokesperson. There was no information about the amount of the fund. It should consist of money from public institutions and voluntary contributions from the private sector, it was said. In addition to local hospitals and ambulance services, more than 1,000 doctors and 1,500 nurses were mobilized to provide medical care to the more than 2,000 injured people.

(lacquer/sda)