The Moroccan Embassy thanks all the support given by Spain after the earthquake

The Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in Madrid issued an official statement to show Morocco's deep gratitude to Spain for the support provided after the severe earthquake suffered more than a week ago, which left around 3,000 people dead and more than 5,600 injured, in addition to multiple material damages.  

The Embassy expressed its "heartfelt" gratitude in general for all the affection and love shown to the Moroccan people from different places.  

"The Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco would like to express its heartfelt thanks for all the expressions of affection and love we have received for the Moroccan people at this tragic time," the official statement said.

The ambassador in Madrid, Karima Benyaich, who signed the communiqué on behalf of the embassy, stressed the importance of the humanitarian and economic support offered by Spanish civil society and institutions. 

"We would also like to thank all the humanitarian and economic aid that Spanish institutions and civil society are sending us through the various channels open to us," the statement said. 

Karima Benyaich highlighted the good relationship that exists between the two allied and neighbouring countries. "We are touched by the spontaneous solidarity received from all corners of Spain, making it clear that the peoples of Morocco and Spain are brothers and sisters and love each other". The two nations currently enjoy an excellent diplomatic bond that was strengthened especially after Spain's recognition of the Moroccan proposal for Western Sahara as the "most serious, credible and realistic" way of resolving the Sahrawi dispute and after the High Level Meeting that took place in Rabat, which resulted in the signing of many sectoral agreements. 

After the terrible earthquake, which severely affected several enclaves such as Al-Haouz, Marrakech, Taroudant, Ouarzazate and Chichaoua, the Moroccan emergency response was activated under the royal instructions of King Mohammed VI, who took the lead in organising a deployment that first included the activity of the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces and the national emergency services.  

Subsequently, following an inter-ministerial working session chaired by the King of Morocco, it was indicated that four countries had been requested to help: Spain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and the United Kingdom, which sent rescue and emergency teams to work on the ground in close coordination with the Moroccan teams. The Alawi monarch explained that assistance had not been requested from other nations because the best help was that which was useful and necessary, ruling out an oversaturation of aid that would harm coordination between the different teams. The Moroccan kingdom has expressed through various channels its deepest gratitude to all those nations that have helped on the ground in rescue and reconstruction work after the fatal earthquake. 

On the other hand, the Moroccan Embassy also expressed in another official note its "sincere thanks, gratitude and appreciation" to all members of the Moroccan community living in Spain and to different organisations linked to the North African country in Spanish territory.

"The Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in Madrid wishes to express its sincere thanks, gratitude and appreciation to all members of the Moroccan community resident in Spain and to the various Moroccan associations and representations in this country, for the spirit of solidarity, compassion and humanity towards their sisters and brothers who have been victims of the earthquake that shook our beloved country, Morocco," the official note said.  

The Moroccan Embassy in Madrid also stressed that this support from the Moroccan community resident in Spanish territory "reaffirms its attachment to the country and its patriotism, and its willingness to contribute to its progress and development". "The unconditional support of the Moroccan community resident in Spain in these difficult times that Morocco and its people are going through is not alien to them, but reaffirms their attachment to their country and their patriotism, and their willingness to contribute to its progress and development. A special greeting to all Moroccans, and together we will continue to build our country under the wise leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God be with him," the official note concluded.