In the remote recesses of the Atlas mountains in Morocco, hope is dwindling fast as rescuers persist in their efforts to unearth survivors entombed under their shattered homes, victims of a relentless earthquake. As the fourth day of search and rescue operations unfolds, the odds of locating those still clinging to life beneath the rubble appear increasingly bleak.
Within the mountainous terrain of Al Haouz, proximate to the epicenter of the formidable 6.8-magnitude tremor that struck on a fateful Friday night, search and rescue squads persistently strive to reach the most secluded hamlets and villages. Morocco’s armed forces have established field hospitals in the earthquake-ravaged zones, deploying helicopters to soar above the peaks, carrying aid and tending to the wounded.
Moulay Hafid Alaoui, the esteemed head of the Moroccan Red Cross for Marrakech-Safi, solemnly acknowledges, “It’s evident that with the passage of time, the prospect of uncovering survivors amidst the debris is progressively waning.” He underscores the arduous task posed by damaged mountain roads, impeding access to the affected regions.
Amid the intricate web of rescue operations and the death toll inching toward the grim 3,000 mark, accompanied by over 5,000 wounded souls, queries linger concerning the state’s response. While Morocco’s King Mohammed VI returned from France on a somber Saturday to preside over a disaster management assembly with the cabinet, he has yet to address the public directly.
Upon his arrival in Marrakech, the nearest major city to the earthquake’s epicenter, the king paid a visit to the hospital bedsides of earthquake victims, as relayed by state media. However, scant indications exist of a royal excursion to the destitute Al Haouz region, which bore the brunt of this catastrophe. Moroccan public television has broadcast footage of a meeting convened on Sunday in the administrative heart of the Al Haouz region, featuring the interior minister, military officials, health ministers, and local authorities. Surprisingly, cabinet ministers, including Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch, hailing from a southern province also affected by the earthquake, have refrained from interacting with the afflicted population in Al Haouz.
Experts like Samia Errazzouki, specializing in the history and governance of the Moroccan state at Stanford University in California, posit that government officials are grappling to respond to the crisis while cautiously avoiding overshadowing the palace’s efforts.
The king, for years dogged by accusations of governing the nation from his French enclaves, including a reported 10-bedroom mansion near the Eiffel Tower and a chateau northeast of Paris, has cast a shadow over diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Errazzouki observes, “The state’s inadequacy fundamentally reflects Morocco’s governance, hinging on an authoritarian structure presided over by an elusive figure.”
Speaking to CNN, Khalid Zerouali, a representative from Morocco’s interior ministry, deflects inquiries regarding the monarch’s potential visit to the earthquake-stricken zone or any forthcoming public addresses. He instead directs attention to last weekend’s emergency session, emphasizing, “It’s a moment for deeds, not words. We are laboring under the guidance and directives of His Majesty, who remains closely engaged and monitors the unfolding developments minute by minute.” Diminishing Hope in Morocco as Earthquake Survivors Remain Trapped
In the remote recesses of the Atlas mountains in Morocco, hope is dwindling fast as rescuers persist in their efforts to unearth survivors entombed under their shattered homes, victims of a relentless earthquake. As the fourth day of search and rescue operations unfolds, the odds of locating those still clinging to life beneath the rubble appear increasingly bleak.
Within the mountainous terrain of Al Haouz, proximate to the epicenter of the formidable 6.8-magnitude tremor that struck on a fateful Friday night, search and rescue squads persistently strive to reach the most secluded hamlets and villages. Morocco’s armed forces have established field hospitals in the earthquake-ravaged zones, deploying helicopters to soar above the peaks, carrying aid and tending to the wounded.
Moulay Hafid Alaoui, the esteemed head of the Moroccan Red Cross for Marrakech-Safi, solemnly acknowledges, “It’s evident that with the passage of time, the prospect of uncovering survivors amidst the debris is progressively waning.” He underscores the arduous task posed by damaged mountain roads, impeding access to the affected regions.
Amid the intricate web of rescue operations and the death toll inching toward the grim 3,000 mark, accompanied by over 5,000 wounded souls, queries linger concerning the state’s response. While Morocco’s King Mohammed VI returned from France on a somber Saturday to preside over a disaster management assembly with the cabinet, he has yet to address the public directly.
Upon his arrival in Marrakech, the nearest major city to the earthquake’s epicenter, the king paid a visit to the hospital bedsides of earthquake victims, as relayed by state media. However, scant indications exist of a royal excursion to the destitute Al Haouz region, which bore the brunt of this catastrophe. Moroccan public television has broadcast footage of a meeting convened on Sunday in the administrative heart of the Al Haouz region, featuring the interior minister, military officials, health ministers, and local authorities. Surprisingly, cabinet ministers, including Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch, hailing from a southern province also affected by the earthquake, have refrained from interacting with the afflicted population in Al Haouz.
Experts like Samia Errazzouki, specializing in the history and governance of the Moroccan state at Stanford University in California, posit that government officials are grappling to respond to the crisis while cautiously avoiding overshadowing the palace’s efforts.
The king, for years dogged by accusations of governing the nation from his French enclaves, including a reported 10-bedroom mansion near the Eiffel Tower and a chateau northeast of Paris, has cast a shadow over diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Errazzouki observes, “The state’s inadequacy fundamentally reflects Morocco’s governance, hinging on an authoritarian structure presided over by an elusive figure.”
Speaking to CNN, Khalid Zerouali, a representative from Morocco’s interior ministry, deflects inquiries regarding the monarch’s potential visit to the earthquake-stricken zone or any forthcoming public addresses. He instead directs attention to last weekend’s emergency session, emphasizing, “It’s a moment for deeds, not words. We are laboring under the guidance and directives of His Majesty, who remains closely engaged and monitors the unfolding developments minute by minute.”
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