After the Moroccan earthquake, several countries poured in for help and search and rescue assistance. However, the majority of the rescue operations in inaccessible mountain locations were led by local teams, and Rabat has not yet issued a general call for international assistance.
Following the death of over 2,900 people in a catastrophic earthquake late September 8 night, Moroccan authorities started bilateral contact this weekend with nations authorized to send specialist search and rescue teams.
The following are some of the offers of humanitarian efforts made by foreign governments:
Spain:
According to Spain's Defence Minister Margarita Robles, a Spanish military search and rescue force of 56 personnel and four sniffer dogs arrived in Morocco on Sunday. The Spanish Emergency Military Unit will work around 100 kilometers (60 miles) south of Marrakech. A second crew of 30 people and four dogs was on its way to Morocco.
United States:
The United States sent a small team of disaster professionals to Morocco to examine the situation, identify unmet humanitarian needs, and collaborate with the Moroccan authorities to find additional support. According to a US official, the team got on the ground on Sunday.
Britain:
Britain said that it will send 60 search and rescue personnel and four dogs, as well as a four-person medical assessment team.
France:
France stated on Sunday that it is ready to assist Morocco and is awaiting a formal request. Separately, the Foreign Ministry announced the establishment of a fund of local government contributions to support solidarity efforts. It reported that over 2 million euros ($2.14 million) had been pledged at this point. Furthermore, numerous French corporations have contacted the ministry to express their intention to contribute to France's relief efforts.
Israel:
The head of Israel's national medical and disaster emergency organization, Magen David Adom, phoned the president of the Moroccan Red Crescent with an offer of assistance.
Algeria:
Algeria, which severed ties with Morocco two years ago, said it would allow humanitarian and medical flights to Morocco. Algeria's presidency said in a statement that it is ready to provide humanitarian aid and offer all of its material and human resources in solidarity with the Moroccan people if Morocco demands it.
According to the Foreign Ministry, Algiers has prepared emergency and medical personnel, as well as humanitarian aid, to be sent to Morocco if Rabat approves.
Tunisia:
Tunisia has organized a team to assist with search and rescue efforts, which is awaiting authorization from Morocco, according to a representative for the country's civil protection office on Sunday. The crew had already arrived in Morocco which consists of approximately 50 paramedics and personnel from a specialist unit, as well as search dogs, advanced thermal monitoring gear, a drone to find patients under rubble, and a field hospital.
Turkey:
Turkey's AFAD disaster management agency announced that 265 humanitarian workers from AFAD, the Turkish Red Crescent, and other Turkish NGOs were ready to travel to the earthquake region if Morocco requested international assistance. Turkey also stated that it was prepared to supply 1,000 tents to the affected communities. The crew had not yet left by Sunday.
Kuwait:
According to the national news agency (KUNA), Kuwait's Emir Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah authorized the government to supply all required relief materials for Morocco.
Oman:
Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said has ordered the dispatch of rescue teams, as well as emergency assistance and medical aid, to Morocco, according to the Omani state news agency.
Taiwan:
Taiwan's fire department said on Saturday that it has put a team of 120 rescuers on readiness to go to Morocco as soon as the Taiwanese foreign ministry gave the get-ahead.