Arab, International Solidarity with Morocco after Devastating Earthquake

Destruction in an old mosque in the historic city of Marrakesh following the earthquake (Reuters)
Destruction in an old mosque in the historic city of Marrakesh following the earthquake (Reuters)
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Arab, International Solidarity with Morocco after Devastating Earthquake

Destruction in an old mosque in the historic city of Marrakesh following the earthquake (Reuters)
Destruction in an old mosque in the historic city of Marrakesh following the earthquake (Reuters)

Arab and Western countries offered their condolences to Morocco for the victims of the Friday earthquake, which killed at least 1,305 people and injured 1,832, and expressed their solidarity.

-Saudi Arabia

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, sent a cable of condolences to King Mohammed VI of Morocco for the victims of the earthquake that resulted in hundreds of deaths and injuries.

They expressed their sympathies, praying for solace to the families of the deceased and wishing speedy recovery to the injured.

Saudi Arabia expressed condolences and sympathy to the government and people of Morocco for the earthquake that hit the country and led to the death and injury of hundreds of people.

The Kingdom expressed solidarity with Morocco in this time of great affliction and deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery and Morocco safety and security.

-UAE

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan sent a message of condolence to King Mohammed VI of Morocco over the victims of the earthquakes that hit the country, wishing a speedy recovery to all the injured.

The President ordered the creation of a humanitarian airbridge to enable the charity institutions affiliated with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives to send relief aid to those affected by the earthquake in Morocco.

Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum also dispatched similar messages to King Mohammed VI, wishing Morocco safety and security.

-Qatar

On Saturday, Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani expressed deep condolences to the Moroccan King following the devastating earthquake that affected several regions of the Kingdom.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani also spoke to his Moroccan counterpart Aziz Akhannouch via phone.

Sheikh Tamim directed urgent aid and rescue crew.

-Kuwait

Kuwait's Emir Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah directed the government to provide all necessary relief supplies for Morocco.

-Bahrain

Bahrain also offered condolences to Morocco for the earthquake victims.

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry expressed its sympathy and solidarity with Morocco, wishing the injured a speedy recovery.

-Oman

The Sultanate of Oman sympathized with the Moroccan government and people after the earthquake.

In a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry, the Sultanate expressed sincere condolences to the victims' families and its wishes for a speedy recovery for the injured.

-Algeria

Algeria said it would open its air space for humanitarian and medical flights to Morocco. In a statement, Algeria's presidency said it was ready to provide humanitarian aid and offer all its material and human capabilities in solidarity with the Moroccan people if Morocco requests such help.

-Egypt

Egypt offered its deepest condolences to Morocco following the deadly earthquake.

The Foreign Ministry reaffirmed Egypt's unwavering solidarity with Morocco, its government, and its people as they grapple with the devastating consequences of this tragic and painful incident.

-Jordan

The Jordanian Foreign Ministry expressed its warmest condolences and sincere sympathy to Morocco for the earthquake victims that occurred Friday evening and resulted in several victims and injuries.

-The OIC

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) voiced solidarity with Morocco after the powerful earthquake.

In a statement, OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha expressed his deepest condolences and sincere sympathy, affirming the solidarity of the OIC and its support for Morocco and its people in facing the effects of this devastating tragedy and overcoming this humanitarian ordeal.

-Israel

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed all government bodies and forces to provide any necessary assistance to the people of Morocco, including the preparations for sending an aid delegation to the area.

Netanyahu expressed the Israeli government and people's sympathy with the Moroccan people during this tragedy, offering his sincerest condolences to the families who fell victim to the quake.

He delegated to all specialized forces in Israel to be on standby to head to Morocco and extend a helping hand to the local troops in rescuing those who were stuck and administering aid to survivors.

The Israeli government also added that the Ministry of Defense and the Israeli army are on standby to offer help through their specialized rescue forces.

-Europe

French President Emmanuel Macron said he was "devastated" by news of the quake, adding that "France stands ready to help with first aid."

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said she "learned with grief of the tragic toll" from the quake and pointed to "Italy's willingness to support Morocco in this emergency."

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed his solidarity and support to the people of Morocco in the wake of this terrible earthquake, asserting that "Spain is with the victims of this tragedy."

The Spain military emergency unit and our embassy and consulates are at the disposal of Morocco," Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said at the G20 meeting in New Delhi.

Foreign Secretary of the UK James Cleverly announced his country's readiness to help Morocco however it can, noting that the UK continues to support British nationals in the region.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed sympathy with the Moroccan people, while top EU diplomat Joseph Borrell said the bloc is ready to provide Morocco "the assistance it wishes."

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed similar sentiments and said in a message to Morocco's King, "We share the pain and the mourning of the friendly Moroccan people."

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his "deepest condolences to HM King Mohammed VI and all Moroccans for the lives lost in the horrible earthquake."

"Ukraine stands in solidarity with Morocco during this tragic time," he said on social media.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan supported "our Moroccan brothers in every way in this difficult hour."

-Asia

China. Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a "message of condolence" to King Mohammed VI.

"I am shocked to learn that a strong earthquake has occurred in your distinguished country, causing great casualties and property damage," Xi said.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is hosting the G20 summit this weekend, said he was "extremely pained by the loss of lives due to an earthquake in Morocco."

-The US

US President Joe Biden said he was deeply saddened by the loss of life and devastation caused by the earthquake in Morocco.

Biden announced that the US administration is in contact with Moroccan officials and stands ready to provide any necessary assistance for the Moroccan people.

World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the quake as "heartbreaking," adding: "We stand ready to support the immediate health needs."



Closure of Iraq Camps Housing Yazidis Displaced by ISIS Attacks Gets Postponed

A Yazidi refugee girl from the minority Yazidi sect poses for a photograph on the first day of the new school term at Sharya refugee camp, on the outskirts of Duhok province in Iraq last October. (STRINGER/IRAQ / REUTERS)
A Yazidi refugee girl from the minority Yazidi sect poses for a photograph on the first day of the new school term at Sharya refugee camp, on the outskirts of Duhok province in Iraq last October. (STRINGER/IRAQ / REUTERS)
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Closure of Iraq Camps Housing Yazidis Displaced by ISIS Attacks Gets Postponed

A Yazidi refugee girl from the minority Yazidi sect poses for a photograph on the first day of the new school term at Sharya refugee camp, on the outskirts of Duhok province in Iraq last October. (STRINGER/IRAQ / REUTERS)
A Yazidi refugee girl from the minority Yazidi sect poses for a photograph on the first day of the new school term at Sharya refugee camp, on the outskirts of Duhok province in Iraq last October. (STRINGER/IRAQ / REUTERS)

The Iraqi government has postponed an order to clear out camps in the country’s semi-autonomous northern Kurdish region that house thousands of people who fled when the ISIS group seized their home areas a decade ago, officials said Tuesday.

Earlier this year, Baghdad ordered the camps to be closed by July 30 and offered payments of 4 million dinars (about $3,000) to occupants who leave.

Kurdish authorities refused to implement the closure order, saying that the areas the displaced people fled from — in particular, the remote district of Sinjar, the historic homeland of the Yazidi religious minority — are not suitable for returns.

A Kurdish official said that the regional government had reached an agreement with the office of Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to postpone the closure until the end of the year, The AP reported.

The prime minister’s office has not released any public statement on the decision. However, a Baghdad government official confirmed that the closure had been postponed.

“A committee has been formed from the central government, the regional government and international organizations in order to assess the situation of the return of displaced persons and to provide the appropriate atmosphere for their return," he said. ”The return will be voluntary and not forced."

Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to share the information publicly.

As of April, only 43% of the more than 300,000 people displaced from Sinjar had returned, according to the International Organization for Migration.

IOM Chief of Mission Giorgi Gigauri said in a statement that returns have been hampered by “concerns over safety and security, the need for reconstruction including improved public service provision and availability of economic opportunities, widespread residential destruction, the need for accountability, redress and compensation, and the need for community reconciliation.”

In recent months, there has been an uptick in returns due to the camp closure order and compensation payments, but as of Tuesday, many residents of camps in the Dohuk area had not left.