Editorial by Alexandra Schwartzbrod
As the death toll from Friday, September 8’s deadly earthquake continues to rise, the question of aid is crucial. However, the kingdom’s handling of the disaster remains unclear.
The earthquake that struck Morocco on Friday September 8th is a tragedy whose aftershocks are still being felt in the figurative sense of the word. The tremors, felt in all parts of the country, were so strong that many traumatized people continue to sleep outside, fearing that the earth could shake again. Since the epicenter of the earthquake is in difficult-to-reach mountainous areas, it is difficult to get help and the affected population is crying out in despair. It is not excluded that the toll will increase even further with the discovery of villages or hamlets that have disappeared from the map.
We know that in such circumstances, the first twenty-four to forty-eight hours are critical to saving lives. But Morocco had only officially asked for help on Sunday, 36 hours after the tragedy, from Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and especially Spain, a country to which it is particularly close geographically but also politically, with Madrid recently joining Rabat had buried the hatchet over the recognition of Western Sahara. Did the kingdom want to take its time to avoid a humanitarian aid mess like it was accused of following the Al Hoceima earthquake in 2004? Did he allow himself to be overwhelmed by the magnitude of the task, especially since the king was absent at the time of the tragedy? Or did he consciously choose to leave those with whom he has diplomatic disagreements, such as France, with him? At the moment, these questions can certainly be asked.
Fortunately, solidarity is working at full speed, “the culture of solidarity is in the DNA of all Moroccans,” director Nabil Ayouch told us on Saturday from Casablanca. Collection points for basic necessities or blood donations were set up very quickly in all or almost all cities of the kingdom. Personalities – athletes, actors, comedians – immediately provided their support, sometimes financially. Even Algeria, a longtime enemy, spontaneously opened its airspace to facilitate relief. But sooner or later the hour of judgment will come, whether because of the slowness of aid deliveries or because of the barely observed seismic standards in some places, which burden many officials.