From Washington to Algiers, solidarity with Morocco after the deadly earthquake

The earthquake, which left several thousand dead in Morocco on the night of Friday September 8 to Saturday September 9, sparked a surge of solidarity around the world, with several countries and organizations offering their help to Rabat.

Read alsoIn pictures: considerable damage in Morocco after a violent earthquake

Europe

French President Emmanuel Macron said he was “upset after the terrible earthquake”. “France stands ready to help with first aid,” he added on X (ex-Twitter) during his flight for the G20 which takes place this weekend in New Delhi.

And on Saturday evening, the leaders of the 27 member countries of the European Union co-signed a letter to the King of Morocco Mohammed VI, saying they were “in full solidarity” and “ready to help in any way that you (the king, Editor’s note) deem useful”.

The head of the Italian government, Giorgia Meloni, regretted the “tragic assessment of the earthquake” and reaffirmed the “willingness of Italy to support Morocco in this emergency situation”.

“All my solidarity and all my support for the people of Morocco after this terrible earthquake”, for his part wrote the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, on X, while King Felipe VI said he was “devastated”. Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares clarified that “Spain has offered Morocco (…) both relief teams (…) but also its aid for reconstruction”.

The United Kingdom stands “ready to help” Morocco “in any way possible”, assured the British Minister for Foreign Affairs, James Cleverly.

Switzerland has offered to provide temporary shelters, water treatment and distribution equipment, sanitation facilities and hygiene kits.

“In Russia, we share the pain and mourning of the friendly Moroccan people,” said Russian President Vladimir Putin, offering his “sincere condolences for the tragic consequences of the devastating earthquake”.

The Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, affirmed for his part that he was “in solidarity with Morocco in this tragic ordeal”.

The Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, expressed his condolences to the “brother” Moroccan people and offered “all forms of support to heal the wounds” of Morocco. Turkey was devastated in February by a very powerful earthquake which left more than 50,000 dead and millions displaced in the south-east of the country.

North Africa

Algeria, which broke diplomatic relations with Morocco in August 2021 amid the crisis between the two countries, offered “its sincere condolences to the brotherly Moroccan people for the victims of the earthquake”, according to a press release from the Ministry of Affairs. foreigners in Algiers.

Middle East

Morocco, which in 2020 normalized its relations with Israel, received an offer of assistance from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who “instructed all government bodies and forces to provide all necessary assistance to the people Morocco, including preparations for dispatching an aid team to the region,” according to a statement from his office. “The people of Israel (stand) alongside their friends (…) in this difficult time,” he continues.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohamed Chia al-Soudani also said he was “ready to provide any form of assistance” while Jordanian King Abdullah II ordered his government “to provide all necessary assistance to Morocco.”

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Emirati President Mohammed bin Zayed sent their “condolences” to King Mohammed VI and the Moroccan people. Egypt also expressed its solidarity.

Qatar announced that a rescue team would leave Doha on Saturday evening.

Sub-Saharan Africa

“Our thoughts and prayers are with you,” Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan wrote on X. “Kenya stands with the Moroccan people,” posted his Kenyan counterpart William Ruto on the social network.

Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara also offered his “deepest condolences” to the “brotherly people of Morocco” on X.

“We are deeply saddened by the shocking loss of life,” said South African Vice President Paul Mashatile, on behalf of President Cyril Ramaphosa, traveling to the G20.

“All our thoughts are with the Moroccan people in these difficult times that this brother country is going through,” wrote on X the Minister of Defense of Niger, General Salifou Mody, appointed by the regime resulting from the coup d’etat of July 26.

UNITED STATES

US President Joe Biden said he was “deeply saddened by the lives lost and the devastation caused” by the earthquake, in a statement released from New Delhi, where he is attending the G20 summit. The United States is working to “ensure that American nationals in Morocco are safe” and “is ready to provide any necessary assistance to the Moroccan people,” said the American president.

Asia

Chinese President Xi Jinping said he was “shocked” and “expressed (his) deep sadness for the victims and (his) sincere condolences to the families, state television CCTV reported.

For his part, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared himself “extremely saddened by the loss of life”.

The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliev, said he was “deeply shocked” in his message of condolences addressed to the King of Morocco.

Organizations

The International Red Cross warned of the importance of Morocco’s future needs, citing “24 to 48 critical hours” and needs for “months or even years”.

World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said X was “heartbroken”. “My thoughts and prayers are with the Moroccans (…). We are ready to respond to immediate health needs,” he wrote.

The chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, said he “learned with great pain the tragic consequences of the earthquake” while the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), based in Saudi Arabia, indicated , she, pray for “a quick recovery for the injured”.

The World Bank said it was “wholeheartedly with the Moroccan people” and offered its “full support to the country”.

Vatican

Pope Francis expressed “his deep solidarity with those who are struck in their flesh and heart by this tragedy”.

With AFP