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Medics in quake-hit Morocco battle against the clock

Morocco grapples with the aftermath of its strongest-ever earthquake, with over 2,800 casualties and fading hopes of finding survivors in the rubble.

International rescue teams race against time to aid affected areas in the Atlas mountains, where entire villages were devastated.

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1 year ago

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RABAT, MOROCCO — Medics treated a constant flow of casualties after Morocco’s strongest-ever earthquake killed more than 2,800 people, but hopes were fading Tuesday of finding more survivors under the rubble.

Rescuers supported by foreign teams faced a race against time to find those still alive after villages in the Atlas mountains were devastated by the 6.8-magnitude disaster that struck over the weekend.

It was the deadliest quake to hit the North African country since a 1960 earthquake destroyed Agadir, killing thousands.

The epicentre of Friday’s late-night tremor was in Al-Haouz province southwest of the tourist hub of Marrakesh. Most of the victims died in Al-Haouz, authorities reported.

Overall, at least 2,862 people died and more than 2,500 were injured in the tragedy, according to an official toll late Monday.

Moroccan rescuers backed by teams from Spain, Britain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are now up against the clock.

“The big difficulty is in zones remote and difficult to access, like here, but the injured are choppered out,” Annika Coll, who heads the Spanish team, told AFP in the disaster-stricken community of Talat Nyacoub.

About 70 kilometres (40 miles) north, another Spanish team from the Military Emergencies Unit (UME) had set up camp since late Sunday on the edge of Amizmiz village.

Albert Vasquez, the Spanish unit’s communications officer, warned Monday that “it’s very difficult to find people alive after three days” but “hope is still there”.

Rabat on Sunday announced it had accepted offers to send search and rescue teams from Britain, Qatar and the UAE, as well as Spain.

Many other nations have offered to help.

Spanish reinforcements

Madrid said late Monday it was reinforcing its presence on the ground in Morocco with another five canine rescue teams comprising “31 specialists, 15 search and rescue dogs and 11 vehicles” arriving on Tuesday.

The earthquake wiped out entire villages in the Atlas foothills, where civilian rescuers and members of Morocco’s armed forces have been searching for survivors and the bodies of victims.

Citizens reported to hospitals in Marrakesh and elsewhere to donate blood, while other volunteers organised food and essential supplies to help quake victims, after complaints that authorities were slow to respond.

The education ministry announced that classes have been “suspended” in the worst-hit villages of Al-Haouz province.

One volunteer helper, Yacine Benhania, complained of a “shortage of medicines, particularly for diabetes and hypertension”.

At a makeshift hospital under canvas in Amizmiz, where the local hospital is considered unsafe because of the possibility of aftershocks, emptied beds were quickly refilled by constant arrivals.

But doctors have flocked to the area from across the country to help treat the wave of quake casualties.

“We can’t treat everything here”, said ophthalmologist Doha Hamidallah from Casablanca.

“We handle primary treatment such as sutures and fractures. But more serious cases are sent to Marrakesh University Hospital.”

Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch said he had chaired a meeting on Monday on housing and reconstruction in the affected areas.

“Citizens who have lost their homes will receive compensation,” he announced, saying specific details were being decided.

— AFP

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International

UN General Assembly overwhelmingly adopts resolution calling for Israel to end occupation of Palestinian territories

The UN General Assembly has passed a resolution urging Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian territories within a year. Backed by an ICJ advisory opinion, the resolution reflects broad international opposition to the occupation, though key nations like the US opposed it.

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18 hours ago

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19 September 2024

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The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has passed a resolution calling on Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian territories within a year, a decision that Palestine hailed as “historic.”

The nonbinding resolution, passed by a vote of 124-12 with 43 abstentions, demands Israel end its “unlawful presence” in the Occupied Palestinian Territory within 12 months and pay reparations for damages incurred during the occupation.

The resolution also backed an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which had previously declared Israel’s presence in the Palestinian territories to be unlawful.

The ICJ stressed that Israel, as an occupying power, is in violation of international humanitarian law due to its settlement activities in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

The UNGA vote occurred as Israel continues its military campaign in Gaza, where more than 41,250 Palestinians have been killed.

The ICJ had earlier issued rulings urging Israel to prevent genocide in Gaza and ensure adequate humanitarian aid reaches the population.

Among the 12 countries opposing the resolution were Israel, the United States, Czechia, Hungary, Argentina, and several Pacific island nations.

The US, which claims to support a two-state solution to the conflict, joined Israel in opposing the resolution.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the resolution, calling on the international community to pressure Israel to comply.

“The international consensus over this resolution renews the hopes of our Palestinian people…to achieve its aspirations of freedom and independence,” Abbas said, emphasizing the establishment of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

NGOs Urge UN Member States to Uphold ICJ Opinion and Halt Arms Sales to Israel

Additionally, over 30 NGOs, including Amnesty International, Oxfam, and War Child, urged UN Member States to adhere to the ICJ’s advisory opinion, which denounced Israel’s decades-long occupation.

The NGOs highlighted ongoing human rights abuses such as forced displacement, settler violence, and a discriminatory permit regime limiting Palestinians’ access to essential services.

These organizations also called for a halt to arms sales to Israel, which they argue have contributed to a humanitarian catastrophe.

Singapore and Malaysia Vote in Favour of UN Resolution

Ambassador Burhan Gafoor of Singapore expressed support for the UNGA resolution based on respect for international law and the International Court of Justice.

“Singapore has always attached the greatest importance to international law and the principles of the UN Charter. ”

“We voted in favour of this resolution after careful and thorough consideration due to our respect for the International Court of Justice, which is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations as well as for international law more broadly.”

However, he highlighted several reservations, including concerns over using the ICJ’s advisory jurisdiction to address political disputes and the resolution’s potential to harden positions between Israel and Palestine.

Gafoor emphasised that any solution to the conflict must come from direct negotiations between the two parties and expressed concern over the resolution’s overreaching measures that could hinder the peace process.

Malaysia welcomed the UN’s decision to implement the ICJ ruling, noting that the UN resolution underscores the collective responsibility and legal obligations of all States and international organisations to end Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine and seek justice for the Palestinian people.

“Malaysia urges the international community to implement the Resolution in its entirety and without delay, for the Palestinians to exercise their right to self-determination, safeguard sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as pursue socioeconomic development.”

“The resolution affirms Malaysia’s position on this long-standing issue,” the statement read.

The ICJ’s July opinion found that Israel’s occupation and annexation of Palestinian territory violated fundamental principles of international law, asserting that no state should recognize or assist Israel’s continued presence in these territories.

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International

Explosive devices target Hezbollah in Lebanon, killing 20 and injuring over 450

Explosions targeting walkie-talkies killed 20 and injured over 450 in Lebanon. The attack, suspected to be carried out by Israel, escalates tensions with Hezbollah, raising international concerns of a potential war crime.

Published

19 hours ago

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19 September 2024

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A coordinated series of explosions targeting walkie-talkies in Lebanon killed at least 20 people and injured more than 450 on Wednesday, prompting international concerns that the attacks may constitute a war crime.

Thousands of booby-trapped communication devices exploded across Lebanese cities, particularly in Hezbollah strongholds, just one day after a similar attack involving pagers killed 12 and injured over 2,800.

Israel is widely suspected of being behind the strikes, escalating tensions with Hezbollah.

The explosions, described as “small in size” but widespread, mark a potential shift in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group that controls parts of Lebanon.

International observers have condemned the attacks, with UN Secretary General António Guterres calling for restraint while noting that the scale and strategy of the operation suggest it could be a prelude to a broader Israeli military assault on Lebanon.

On Tuesday, Israeli media reported that the decision to detonate the devices might have been driven by fears that Hezbollah was close to discovering Israeli efforts to sabotage its communications infrastructure.

Hezbollah confirmed that its walkie-talkies had been targeted in Wednesday’s explosions.

The attacks came shortly after a meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US officials aimed at de-escalating the situation.

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk warned that the indiscriminate nature of the explosions violated international law, as the devices targeted may have been in civilian possession.

Human Rights Watch echoed the sentiment, highlighting that booby traps such as these, which explode without specific targeting, breach international humanitarian law.

While Israel has not officially claimed responsibility for the attacks, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant praised Israeli intelligence agencies for their “great achievements” during a visit to a northern air force base, while stressing that military resources were being diverted northward to confront Hezbollah.

Netanyahu reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to returning northern Israeli residents to their homes, further suggesting a potential escalation.

Lebanese officials, including Hezbollah, have blamed Israel for the attacks, vowing retaliation. The explosions occurred during a tense period in Lebanon, where ongoing violence threatens to spiral into a broader regional conflict.

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