Rabat rejects offers of help from about sixty countries: Morocco apparently does not want Swiss help with the earthquake

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In Morocco’s hard-to-reach earthquake zones, emergency services are working to the brink of exhaustion in the desperate search for survivors. They have to pick their way through rubble and rubble in extreme heat, sometimes with their bare hands. The hope of finding people alive on the fourth day after Friday evening’s major earthquake is dwindling by the hour.

The number of victims is approaching 3,000 and the number of injured, some seriously, is almost the same. Countless people are still missing. There is a lack of rescue workers and resources everywhere. But Morocco is not accepting aid offers from many countries – and is criticizing governments. While time and growing needs are urgent.

Switzerland is waiting for help

There is also an offer of help from Switzerland. As the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs (EDA) reported on its website on Monday: “The Moroccan authorities have not yet responded to the offer of assistance.”

The Swiss aid offer includes support in various areas, such as emergency shelter, access to clean water and sanitation, as well as medicine and construction technology. A team of eight specialists from the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Corps (SHA) has been assembled and is ready to travel to the country. But Rabat remains silent about Bern’s offer.

Countries like France, Germany, Italy and the US are in the same situation. Even the
The United Nations said it would provide all possible assistance after the devastating earthquake in the High Atlas Mountains.

Morocco prefers “friendly” countries

To the surprise of many foreign governments, Morocco is selective in accepting offers of aid. The Home Office said on Sunday it would initially only allow search and rescue teams from Britain, Qatar, Spain and the United Arab Emirates – four countries described as “friendly” – into the country. Rabat must take “local needs” into account.

In France, which ruled Morocco as a colonial power from 1912 to 1956, the rejection was received with surprise. There is speculation that migration issues also play a role in the cooling of relations between Rabat and Paris.

According to French Interior Minister Catherine Colonna (67), about 60 countries have offered Morocco assistance with the earthquake. Rabat only gave the green light to a handful of people, amid speculation about the North African country’s possible political motives.

The German team was already at the airport

A 50-member team from the German Federal Technical Assistance Agency (THW) was also sent back on Sunday. The specialists met this weekend at Cologne-Bonn Airport. Morocco did not accept their offer of help. The helpers had to go home without having achieved anything.

“We need help from everyone who gives it to us”

The Moroccan government is abandoning its people. “We need help so urgently,” the BBC quoted a resident of a devastated village as saying. “And we need help from anyone who will give it to us.”

“I want people to help me,” said the man named Omar Ait Mahdi. His wife is in hospital, his two daughters Hanane (17) and Khadija (14) are still somewhere under the rubble. “I want the world to help me,” the man complains. “I lost my children, my house, everything I own.” (kes)

Source: Blick