Algeria to provide humanitarian aid to Morocco: Exclusive

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
12 Sep 2023 00:08

A top Algerian military official says his country will be providing Morocco with humanitarian aid after lifting the ban on flights to the country.

A man walks past rubble caused by the earthquake in the village of Tafeghaghte, near Marrakech, Morocco, Sept. 11, 2023. (AP)

Three military aircraft loaded with humanitarian aid are preparing to depart from Boufarik military airport bound for Morocco, Algerian military sources told Al Mayadeen on Monday.

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.

Major Farouk Ashour of the Civil Defense told Al Mayadeen, "Three relief aircraft have been prepared," and mentioned that "four teams from the Civil Protection Authority have received international training, totaling 93 individuals."

"There is a disaster medicine team, a specialized technical team for rubble search, a logistical support team, and a medical ambulance team," he underlined.

"All relief and necessary materials are ready to provide assistance to our sister country, Morocco," Ashour stressed.

"The Algerian Civil Protection Authority has gained international recognition recently due to its operations in Syria and Turkey, and it is fully prepared to offer all necessary aid to Morocco."

Death toll mounting

The Moroccan Ministry of Interior announced on Monday a rising death toll of 2,497 and a growing number of injured individuals, reaching 2,476.

Moroccan rescue teams, with the support of foreign assistance, raced to locate survivors and provide aid to hundreds of displaced individuals whose homes had been destroyed in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake.

The Moroccan Ministry of Interior expressed the kingdom's gratitude for the international solidarity and aid pouring in from various regions of the world.

Several nations, including Algeria and Iran, have declared their readiness to provide assistance to Morocco and have expressed their solidarity following the violent earthquake that shook the nation.

Algeria presented an emergency plan to help the neighboring Moroccan people affected by the violent earthquake that struck the country.

Neighborly solidarity

It is noteworthy that on Saturday, Algeria announced the suspension of its two-year ban on flights to Morocco, allowing aircraft carrying vital humanitarian aid to pass through its airspace.

Algerian authorities officially declared their willingness to open 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.

A statement from the President's office emphasized that Algerian authorities are fully prepared to offer humanitarian assistance and mobilize all necessary resources in solidarity with the people of Morocco, should such assistance be requested.

In a prior statement, the Algerian Foreign Ministry expressed sincere condolences to the brotherly Moroccan nation for the earthquake victims, underscoring the spirit of unity and compassion during this challenging period.

Several humanitarian organizations and relief agencies in Algeria have also initiated grassroots campaigns to support Moroccans during these critical times.