European Rescue Teams Disheartened as Morocco Limits International Aid Post-Earthquake

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An emergency alert about a devastating earthquake in Morocco was received in the dead of night. A team of nine French volunteers, equipped with search-and-rescue tools, including listening devices, were ready to assist in locating survivors buried in the debris.

However, the one element missing was official approval from Morocco to board a plane, which would have allowed them to arrive in the disaster-stricken region a little over 24 hours following the September 8 quake. The catastrophic event led to the deaths of over 2,900 individuals and left at least 5,530 injured across demolished villages and residential structures.

Arnaud Fraisse, the coordinator and founder of the humanitarian organization Rescuers Without Borders, lamented, “We never received the green light. Our team, which undergoes regular training for precisely such emergencies, is disheartened that they could not put their skills into action.”

European aid organizations have expressed their frustration over Morocco’s restricted approach to accepting international help, contrasting it with Turkey’s open call for aid after a disastrous earthquake in February. Turkey had swiftly acknowledged the gravity of the situation and welcomed aid from 90 countries, resulting in the rescue of hundreds of people.

Morocco, on the other hand, has been more selective, accepting governmental search-and-rescue teams only from Spain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom, while declining further offers from countries such as the United States and France.

Logistical challenges partly explain Morocco’s cautious approach. Aid specialists have pointed out that a sudden influx of uncoordinated rescue teams could cause more harm than good. Additionally, reaching the affected areas in the Atlas Mountains posed logistical difficulties, as roads were either destroyed or obstructed by debris. The Moroccan government also recalls the disarray that followed international assistance after a similar event in 2004.

Moroccan Senator Lahcen Haddad, formerly the nation’s tourism minister, emphasized in an interview with Big Big News that the immediate focus should be on clearing routes and reaching survivors. “Numbers are not the issue here. Speed and efficiency are of the essence. Assistance, if required, will be solicited later,” he stated.

Caroline Holt, a representative of the International Federation of the Red Cross, concurred, explaining that the government is taking measured steps in accepting aid to avoid further chaos.

While Fraisse understands the complexities involved in handling an international response, he knows the value of time in life-saving missions. He recalls his team’s late arrival to a disaster scene in Turkey, despite their efforts being “extremely well-coordinated.” He also suspects that existing political tensions between France and Morocco played a role in the refusal of their offer for assistance.

Several other countries faced similar situations. Germany had also assembled a 50-member rescue team that was ultimately told to stand down. A 70-member Czech rescue team was similarly prepared but never deployed.

Patricia McIlreavy, CEO of the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, highlighted the challenges in coordinating an international response. “It’s easy to critique from the outside, but managing international aid is far from straightforward,” she remarked.

Contributions to this report were made by Big Big News journalists Glenn Gamboa in New York; Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey; Jamey Keaten in Geneva; Kirsten Grieshaber in Berlin; Karel Janicek in Prague; and Sam Metz in Marrakech, Morocco.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Morocco Earthquake International Aid

More about Morocco Earthquake International Aid

• Earthquake Preparedness Guidelines
• Overview of Morocco’s Disaster Response Plan
• Turkey’s Approach to International Aid in Natural Disasters
• Challenges of Coordinating International Aid in Emergency Situations
• The Role of Political Tensions in International Aid
• Analysis of the September 8 Earthquake in Morocco
• The International Federation of the Red Cross on Disaster Management
• Center for Disaster Philanthropy’s Guidelines on Effective Giving