Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna called the rumour that the earthquake-stricken African nation rejected aid from Paris a “misplaced controversy.”
The chief of French diplomacy, Catherine Colonna, responded to a query on Monday on why the African nation had not asked assistance from France in dealing with Friday’s earthquake, which has resulted in hundreds of deaths, by stating that Morocco has full sovereignty over the aid it receives.
The Moroccan government announced on Sunday that it has accepted assistance from Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Spain, and Britain. It has apparently chosen not to accept France’s offer of assistance.
Rescuers Without Borders’ founder, Arnaud Fraisse, claimed on Sunday that his organization’s team of humanitarian workers were stranded in Paris because Rabat would not authorise the organization’s request for French assistance.
“All rescue teams are being blocked by the Moroccan government, with the exception of the Qatari team, which is permitted to land there. Five search dogs and 87 people are accompanying them. We don’t get this restricted situation, Fraisse said French radio station Radio France.
Relationships between Paris and Rabat have deteriorated recently, in part because of the Western Sahara problem, in which Morocco wants France to recognise Western Sahara as a part of its territory. Since January, the nation of North Africa has been without a diplomatic presence in Paris.
France’s foreign minister, Catherine Colonna, made an effort to play down any tensions between the two nations that may have prevented Morocco from officially asking for assistance from its former colonial power during an appearance on BFM television on Monday.
“Morocco has not rejected any offers of assistance. Colonna described the charges as a “bad quarrel” and a “completely misplaced controversy,” adding that this is not how things should be presented.
“We’re prepared to assist Morocco. The choice is entirely up to the sovereign Moroccan government, the minister said.
The Moroccan government has already declared that it wants to keep things under control and prevent the potential of a chaotic situation as a result of numerous nations and organisations providing support.
The interior ministry stated in a statement that “the Moroccan authorities conducted a careful assessment of the needs in the field, taking into account that a lack of coordination in such cases would be counterproductive.”
Over 2,000 individuals have died as a result of the earthquake. Four of the more than 51,000 French nationals in Morocco have died, and 15 more have been injured, according to a preliminary assessment from the French Foreign Ministry.
Colonna stated on Monday that 5 million euros ($5.4 million) had been set aside by Paris for both French and foreign non-governmental organisations working in Morocco.
