The earthquake, which left at least 1,037 dead in Morocco, sparked a surge of solidarity around the world, with several countries, including Israel, offering their help to Rabat. French President Emmanuel Macron said he was “upset” and offered France help. “We are all devastated after the terrible earthquake in Morocco. France stands ready to help with first aid,” he said on the social network X (formerly Twitter) during his flight to the G20 which takes place this weekend in New Delhi.
The head of the Italian government, Giorgia Meloni, for her part “learned with sadness of the tragic toll of the earthquake” and expressed “her closeness and solidarity with the Moroccan Prime Minister,” Aziz Akhannouch. She reaffirmed “Italy’s desire to support Morocco in this emergency situation.” “All my solidarity and all my support to the people of Morocco after this terrible earthquake,” wrote the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, on their families,” he added. Morocco’s royal cabinet has declared a three-day national mourning.
In France, several local elected officials have announced that they will release funds to help Morocco. The mayor of Le Havre, Édouard Philippe, indicated that he will propose “on Monday to the municipal council of Le Havre to participate in the aid that Morocco needs”, while Valérie Pécresse, president of the Île-de-France region, already indicated the vote for an envelope of 500,000 euros: “The Île-de-France region stands alongside Morocco bereaved by this terrible earthquake. In solidarity, we will vote 500,000 euros to support the relief forces and humanitarian associations to help the victims. » Occitanie, Corsica and the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region have also announced aid worth one million euros for the victims.
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In a press release, all the presidents of the regions of France declare that they are “at the disposal of the Moroccan regions to take part in any solidarity action that could help provide first aid to the affected populations.” “As part of the friendly relations between the Moroccan and French regions, we can read, and the strengthened partnership established between the Association of the Regions of Morocco and that of the Regions of France, in September 2017, Régions de France will coordinate the support from French regions to support relief interventions, support communities in their emergency actions, then rebuild and respond to the needs of the populations”.
Morocco, which normalized its relations with Israel in 2020, 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 Moroccan, including preparations for sending 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,” it is added in the text. Emirati President Mohammed bin Zayed sent his “condolences to King Mohammed VI and the Moroccan people”, according to the official WAM news agency. Egypt and Saudi Arabia also expressed their condolences and solidarity with Morocco.
“In Russia, we share the pain and mourning of the friendly Moroccan people,” declared Russian President Vladimir Putin in a message addressed in a statement to the King of Morocco, Mohammed VI, presenting his “sincere condolences for the tragic consequences of the devastating earthquake”. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, for his part, presented his “deepest condolences” to “King Mohammed VI and all Moroccans for the lives lost in the horrible earthquake.” “Ukraine stands in solidarity with Morocco in this tragic ordeal,” he added.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday expressed his condolences to the “brotherly” Moroccan people and Turkey’s support. “We support our Moroccan brothers in every way in this difficult day,” he wrote on X. “Turkey stands ready, as always, to provide any form of support to heal the wounds” of Morocco, specified in a press release the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “Extremely saddened by the loss of [human] lives following the earthquake in Morocco,” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, host of the G20 summit, wrote on X. “In this tragic hour, my thoughts are with the people of Morocco. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. »
World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he was “heartbroken” in a post on X. “My thoughts and prayers are with the Moroccans, following last night’s deadly earthquake last. We are prepared to respond to immediate health needs,” he wrote. “I learned with great pain of the tragic consequences of the earthquake that struck the Kingdom of Morocco. I express my deep and sincere condolences to His Majesty King Mohamed VI, the Moroccan people and the families of the victims,” the President of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, also declared on the social network. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), based in Saudi Arabia, prayed for “a speedy recovery for the injured”.