The tragedy of Morocco has been very present at the G20 summit of world leaders in New Delhi. As soon as Saturday’s meetings began, the host of the event, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, began his speech by offering his “heartfelt condolences to all those affected” by the deadly earthquake in Morocco. “In this difficult time, my thoughts are with Morocco and we are ready to offer all possible help,” Modi said.
After the first sessions of the morning, the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, went to the summit media center to tell journalists that for now they have no evidence of any Spanish fatalities among those killed by an earthquake. magnitude 7 that has left hundreds dead and whose epicenter is 60 kilometers from the tourist resort of Marrakech.
“There are around 18,000 Spaniards who reside in Morocco and, at this time, we have no evidence of any deaths or injuries,” Albares remarked, stressing that he contacted his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita, as well as the ambassador of the Alawite kingdom in Madrid, Karima Benyaich, to convey her condolences.
“I want to convey to Morocco and all Moroccans the solidarity of Spain in these difficult times after the terrible news we have received about the earthquake,” said Albares.
The minister revealed that “Spain has made its rescue capabilities available to Morocco”, both from the EMU and the emergency units of the consulates and embassy.
He also asked all Spaniards who are traveling in Morocco to contact the consulate. “To all Spaniards who are in Morocco for tourism or work, for which we do not have them registered, please contact the consular emergency telephone number. Any family member who knows that a family member has traveled there can also do so. “
After the first day of the G20 summit, the first vice president of the acting Government, Nadia Calviño, who is in Delhi replacing President Pedro Sánchez, who stayed in Madrid with Covid, also wanted to address the Spanish media present in India to convey a “message of dismay and affection to the Moroccan population.”
The Spanish Ministry of the Interior, through the General Directorate of Civil Protection and Emergencies, activated the State International Support Committee for Civil Protection early in the morning to be able to provide an immediate response in the event that Morocco requests help, as and as Albares pointed out from New Delhi.
The General Directorate of Civil Protection has also contacted the UME and the Community of Madrid, the two organizations that have internationally certified USAR (search and rescue in urban areas) teams, for their possible deployment. In the event that the Moroccan authorities request help, both bilaterally and through the European Civil Protection Mechanism, the first Spanish teams could be deployed on the ground in a matter of hours.