The German Red Cross announced on Thursday the cancellation of a flight to deliver relief supplies to Morocco, which was hit by a violent earthquake, because last-minute “new regulations” had made the operation impossible.
“For reasons over which neither we nor our partners in the Red Cross and Red Crescent Association have any influence, new regulations and requirements were announced at the last minute that make it impossible for the aircraft to take off today,” said the German Red Cross (DRK) in a press release .
The organization did not provide further information.
“We deeply regret this development because the people there need urgent help after the severe earthquake” on Friday evening, in which almost 2,900 people died and 2,500 were injured.
According to the DRK, the flight to Morocco was scheduled to take off from the East German Leipzig Airport on Thursday in response to a call for help from the Moroccan Red Crescent.
“The delivery of humanitarian goods in agreement with our partner on the ground is essential to the humanitarian mission of our movement and to the people on the ground,” she stressed, adding that she was working “hard” to “eliminate the delay.” .
Rabat has so far rejected certain offers of international assistance, citing logistical challenges in particular. The aim is, among other things, to avoid a backlog of aid in the most affected regions and villages, some of which are very difficult to access.
Only rescue teams from certain countries, including Spain and Britain, were allowed to enter the country.
On Tuesday, the Red Cross launched an appeal for donations worth around 100 million euros to support relief operations.