Algeria and Morocco have not had diplomatic relations for two years and the airspace between the two neighboring countries compete for a dominant role in the Maghreb, It was closed due to political tensions. However, the earthquake that devastated the Marrakesh region, leaving more than 2,800 dead and thousands injured so far, has activated sources of solidarity beyond territorial disputes.
On Sunday, in a goodwill gesture, Algeria announced it would open its airspace to send humanitarian aid. This monday, Three Algerian planes carrying relief supplies have been prepared to depart for Morocco to assist in the rescue and relief efforts. According to the live broadcast images, it could be seen that the civil protection team together with the Algerian Red Crescent were at the Bufarik military airport (40 kilometers south of Algiers) ready to depart for Morocco after the Moroccan Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi announced that his country did so on Sunday accepted the offer of help proposed by Algeria, reports Efe.
“After the Moroccan Minister of Justice announced the acceptance of Algerian aid, the high authorities of Algeria ordered the delivery of three planes, two of which were for medicine, mattresses, tents and food,” said the Director of Civil Protection Communications.
He also explained that the disaster response response team consists of 93 specialized lifeguards divided into four teams: dogs specialized in searching and identifying people under rubble, a rescue and search team and a medical team.
Two aircraft were used for the transport Medicines, mattresses, food and logistical assistance as well as urgent materialsWhile one plane was designated to transport civil protection personnel and search and rescue teams, the source said the planes would take off “as soon as the Moroccan Foreign Ministry gives the green light.”
“We are, above all, at the service of the Moroccan people and while we wait for the green light, we have prepared relief supplies in two planes that contain a significant amount of urgently needed medicine,” said for her part the President of the Algerian Red Army Crescent, Ibtisem. Hamlaoui.
Spain turns to Morocco
For its part, Spain announced on Monday the dispatch of new rescue teams, leading international efforts to help earthquake victims. Five new teams with 31 specialists, 15 search and rescue dogs and 11 vehicles are on the move in the areas affected by the earthquake to cooperate in the search for survivors.
According to the Interior Ministry, Spain immediately dispatched these new five relief teams this Monday. Specifically, these are five dog rescue teams from the Civil Guard, the National Police, the Catalan Generalitat, the Municipality of Granada and the Municipality of Madrid.
They are total 31 specialists, 15 search and rescue dogs and 11 vehicles, who join the UME and Community of Madrid teams already working on site (86 employees in total). For its part, the Guardia Civil has stated that there are six agents who will collaborate in the humanitarian response, four from the Cynological Service, two of which are specialized security and rescue guides (SYR) and two others human remains search guides.
These four agents are joined by others two more civil guards from the GRS-2 from Seville to carry out protection and security tasks. The detachment is commanded by a 1st private from the Cynological Service and will remain in the affected area for the next seven days to carry out search tasks for people.
Morocco’s request for assistance, the deployment of these teams and all the necessary logistics will be directed and managed through the General Directorate of Civil Protection and Emergencies of the Ministry of Interior, which works in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the European Union and Cooperation as well as the Moroccan authorities, the sources have detailed .