German Red Cross aid mission to Morocco fails
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The German Red Cross's flight to Morocco on Thursday has been suspended due to unknown reasons.
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Task forces of the Rapid Response Unit Recovery Abroad SEEBA of the German Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) stand together during a briefing, in Cologne, Germany, on September 09, 2023. (AFP)
The German Red Cross (DRK) announced on Thursday that it has been forced to cancel its aid package to Morocco for reasons beyond its control.
"For reasons beyond our control... new rules and regulations announced at short notice have made it impossible for the plane to take off today," the DRK said without revealing what the reasons for the cancelation were.
"We deeply regret these developments because the people on the ground urgently need help" due to a 7.2 magnitude earthquake that hit the country on September 8.
A DRK flight was scheduled to depart from Leipzig Airport on Thursday, adding that it was working "at full speed" to "address the delay."
So far, Morocco has rejected aid packages from several countries that offered assistance and rescue teams. In fact, it has only allowed rescue teams from Spain, Britain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
On Tuesday, the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed that the Director General of the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs has conveyed to the Algerian Consul that Morocco, following an evaluation, no longer requires humanitarian aid from Algeria.
In response, the Algerian government said it has taken note of this Moroccan decision and drawn clear conclusions.
This decision took place just after the Algerian Foreign Ministry said Morocco had accepted a humanitarian package from Algeria consisting of three aircraft for this mission, with two of them designated for transporting medicines, blankets, and general relief supplies, and the third assigned to carrying Civil Defense personnel, Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported.
Read more: After accepting Algeria's aid, Morocco backs down: We don't need it
Residents complain of ill-response
Only a day earlier, news emerged from Morocco of residents complaining of slow action by authorities to tackle the deadly earthquake that left massive damage and 2,901 dead so far.
In response, people like Maria Boujdig, an insurance broker who lives in Agadir, one of the villages hit hardest in the epicenter of the earthquake, al-Haouz province, stocked up her car with food to distribute and help those in need.
"I got calls from families saying they had nothing to eat," Boujdig told AFP, adding, "So I spent 10,000 dirhams ($980) on food to help in my own small way."
"The tragedy of the dead is made worse by the terrible conditions faced by the survivors," she said, calling it "catastrophic and serious to be hungry in these conditions. It was only natural for me to help."
Mohamed Belkaid, a volunteer, drove from Marrakesh and filled his car with packs of water.
"I wanted to help people affected by the earthquake. On the way, many people asked me about the situation in Tafeghaghte, so I decided to go there," Belkaid said. He urged "everyone to mobilize" to include "authorities, but they seem to be absent."
Morocco has not justified why it has refused assistance from various nations and organizations that rose to the occasion to aid Moroccans.
Read more: Morocco King declares 3-day mourning amid vast solidarity, support
Several countries announced their readiness to send aid to #Morocco following the powerful #earthquake that struck the country and left over 2000 dead.#MoroccoEarthquake#المغرب#زلزال_المغرب#زلزال_مراكش#تضامنا_مع_المغرب pic.twitter.com/Hp6uSJLETn
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) September 11, 2023
