After accepting Algeria's aid, Morocco backs down: We don't need it
3 Min Read
The Director General of the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs informs the Algerian Consul that, after evaluation, Morocco “does not need humanitarian aid from Algeria.”
-
Algerian aid being prepared to be sent to Morocco. (Social media)
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 has taken note of this Moroccan decision and drawn clear conclusions.
The Algerian Foreign Ministry, in a media statement, confirmed that the Moroccan Minister of Justice has announced the acceptance of humanitarian aid proposed by Algeria, on the condition that it is coordinated with the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Ministry also informed its Moroccan counterpart, through the Algerian Consulate in Casablanca and the Consulate General of Morocco in Algeria, of the measures taken by the Algerian government to mobilize three large-capacity aircraft for transporting humanitarian aid to Morocco, aligning with the essential requirements in the wake of natural disasters.
Previously, Algeria allocated three aircraft for this mission, with two of them designated for transporting medicines, blankets, and general relief supplies, and one was assigned to carrying Civil Defense personnel, Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported.
The aid consists of tents, blankets, medicines, and rescue equipment. The Civil Defense team comprises 80 specialized experts, many of whom are specialists in search and rescue operations under the rubble.
This decision by Algerian authorities to dispatch three aid aircraft followed the acceptance of Algerian assistance by the Moroccan Assistant Minister of Justice.
As rescue teams are still trying to scramble under the debris and rubble to search for survivors after the disastrous #earthquake hit #Morocco, the death toll has surpassed 2,800.#MoroccoEarthquake #المغرب#زلزال_المغرب#زلزال_مراكش#تضامنا_مع_المغرب pic.twitter.com/bjVXTxvYlh
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) September 12, 2023
The death toll from the earthquake has increased to more than 2,900 fatalities and 2,501 injuries, as announced by the Moroccan Ministry of Interior. The Red Cross has issued an appeal to raise over one hundred million dollars to aid Morocco in the wake of this devastating earthquake.
It is worth noting that Algeria announced the suspension of its two-year ban on flights to Morocco, allowing aircraft carrying vital humanitarian aid to pass through its airspace.
This decision came in response to a devastating earthquake that struck with a magnitude of 7.2 in the southwestern mountainous region of Morocco, claiming the lives of at least 1,037 people, injuring more than 1,204 others, including 721 in critical condition, and causing extensive damage.
Algeria's authorities opened their airspace to flights carrying humanitarian aid and the injured from the earthquake. With this move, Algeria U-turned on its decision to close its airspace to all Moroccan aircraft in September 2021 when diplomatic ties were severed due to political disputes.
