The Moroccan Government accepted the help of four countries, for rescue tasks of those possibly trapped in the rubble after the earthquake last Friday that caused the death of more than 2,000 people in southern regions of the country.
A Moroccan diplomatic source explained to EFE that Morocco accepted the participation of rescue teams from Spain, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates and Qatar, and stressed that the Maghreb country does not currently need other types of aid.
The source, who thanked the countries that offered help, stated that Morocco is following a “responsible, rigorous and effective approach” to manage demands for international support, linking them to the needs that arise on the ground. She added that her country may accept other types of aid offers if necessary.
Spain participates with a contingent of the Military Emergency Unit (UME) of 65 members to help in search and rescue tasks and a Spanish team traveled to Morocco to make itself available to the authorities.
This Sunday, rescuers accelerated the search for possible survivors trapped under the rubble of the devastated towns in Morocco by a violent earthquake, which has already left more than 2,000 dead.
The earthquake that occurred on Friday night, with a magnitude of 6.8 according to the US Geological Surveywas the most powerful since there are modern records in this North African kingdom.
The telluric movement left at least 2,012 dead and 2,059 injured, of which 1,404 are in very serious condition, The Ministry of the Interior reported on Saturday night.
The province of Al Haouz, the epicenter of the earthquake, was the hardest hit and recorded 1,293 deaths, followed by Taroudant with 452 fatalities. In these two areas located southwest of the tourist city of Marrakech, which suffered only minor damage. The shock, however, destroyed entire villages and that is where rescue efforts are concentrated.
On Sunday, many residents went to hospitals in this city to donate blood for the victims.
national mourning
“I lost everything,” lamented Lahcen, a man who lost his wife and four children in the rural town of Moulay Brahim, in the High Atlas mountain area. “The only thing I want is to get away from the world and grieve,” said the father of the family who was saved from dying because he was outside his house at the time of the earthquake.
The town of Tafeghaghte, a few kilometers to the west, was practically destroyed by the earthquake, whose epicenter was located just fifty kilometers away, according to an AFP team.
“Three of my grandchildren (ages 12, 8 and 4) and their mother died. “They are all under the ruins,” said Omar Benhanna, 72, devastated.
On Saturday, many of the survivors went to the cemetery for the burial of about 70 people, in devastating ceremonies marked by screams and tears.
The kingdom decreed on Saturday three days of national mourning and leaders from around the world, from Spain and France to Israel and the United States, sent their condolences to Rabat. Even Algeria, a neighboring country at odds with Morocco, opened its airspace that has been closed for two years to planes carrying humanitarian aid. and evacuate wounded.
The World Bank stated that it will provide “its full support” to the country.
Spain will send ‘whatever is needed’
Spain sent a team of 56 rescuers and 4 search dogs from the Military Emergency Unit (UME) to Marrakech on Sunday, after receiving a formal request from the Moroccan kingdom, and is preparing a second plane. “We will send what is necessary because everyone knows that these first hours are key, especially if there are people buried under the rubble,” declared Defense Minister Margarita Robles on public television.
The International Red Cross warned Saturday that the country’s needs are enormous, and anticipates “many months and even years of response.”
On Saturday night, Moroccan television channels broadcast aerial images showing destroyed villages in the Al Haouz area, where the buildings are made of clay. A few steps from Marrakech’s city hall, where parts of the city’s 12th-century walls are damaged or partially collapsed, some people gathered up the blankets with which they spent the night on the grass.
In addition to Marrakech and the surrounding regions, the tremor was felt in Rabat, Casablanca, Agadir or Easouira, where many residents left their homes in panic in the middle of the night.
With information from EFE and AFP
Source-www.infobae.com