Desperation after the earthquake of the century in Morocco: why is the king silent?

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The situation in the Atlas Mountains is desperate. People are still digging people out of the rubble, some with their bare hands. So far, nearly 2,900 dead have been recovered and more than 2,500 people have been injured. And the number of victims will rise. Three days after the once-in-a-century earthquake in southwestern Morocco, the chances of finding survivors have dropped to zero. One reason for the tragedy: the rescue is progressing slowly. There is a lack of operational teams, sniffer dogs, technical equipment – ​​and a clear announcement from the ruler, King Mohammed VI. (60).

Immediately after the disaster, 60 countries around the world offered their help. These include France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Israel, Turkey and the US. But the frost did not respond until 36 hours after the earthquake. Not personally, but via a written statement.

Mohammed VI was in his beautiful residence in Paris at the time of the disaster. He does not show himself to his people, who have been ravaged by the earthquake, and has no words of comfort. He does not visit the Atlas Mountains or the stricken historic city of Marrakesh. International help is apparently not wanted either. Morocco wants to alleviate its suffering largely on its own.

Only four countries are allowed to help Morocco

Only on Sunday did rescue teams from just four countries receive the green light. Spain and Great Britain are allowed to deploy search parties and dog units, friendly Qatar provides aid and the United Emirates sets up an airlift. As people die under the rubble, the world wonders: why does the king hesitate? Is the country too proud to accept help? Does the conflict in Western Sahara play a role?

“Morocco wants to show the world that it is not a Third World country that needs enormous amounts of foreign aid,” Riccardo Fabiani, project manager for North Africa at the Crisis Group think tank, told Handelsblatt. The annual meeting of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund will also take place in Marrakesh at the beginning of October. The host’s possible message: Morocco has everything under control.

The conflict in Western Sahara is causing political resentment

But there may also be some political resentment behind the negative attitude. For 45 years, Morocco claimed Western Sahara, which was previously Spanish colonial territory. While the UN and member states such as France, Germany and Switzerland categorically reject Morocco’s annexation, Spain recently relented. Britain also grew sympathetic to global calls for “strategic dialogue” to resolve conflicts and for tangible projects in the disputed area.

The French Minister of the Interior, on the other hand, defends the monarch. Morocco has good civil protection and is able to take control of the situation itself, Gérald Darmanin told the media. This is also Rabat’s argument. In the statement, the government thanked the many countries for their willingness to help and their compassion. But they first want to investigate how and where Morocco can deploy international rescue units to ensure well-coordinated cooperation.

Source: Blick