The magnitude 6.8 quake that struck late on Friday southwest of the city of Marrakesh has killed nearly 2,681 people and injured 2,501 others, many seriously, according to official figures.

Rescuers in Morocco have been using their bare hands as desperate search efforts continue for survivors of Friday’s powerful earthquake.

Fortunately food supply can never a problem in Morocco❤️#earthquake #Maroc #moroccoearthquake #Morocco #earthquakemorocco #pray #hope #god #Marrakesh #MarrakeshEarthquake #Solidarity #مراكش pic.twitter.com/u2sdySaI21

— Maaz ShaheenⓂ️ (@MaazShaheen4) September 11, 2023

A mother cries in pain after she received the news of the tragic loss of her children in the devastating earthquake that struck #Morocco. 🇲🇦💔 pic.twitter.com/yrPrmDZ0V1

— PALESTINE SUNBIRD 🇵🇸 (@SBPal_Eng) September 11, 2023

Morocco’s government is under pressure to accept more international aid, as rescuers battle with exhaustion.

So far, it has accepted help from only four countries – Spain, the UK, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

In Bahamas after horrible Hurricane Dorian in 2019, we did this across many islands…drop off food & water and bring back to hospitals the people that were injured. We can maximize the resources and take care of food and medical together! 🙏#ChefsForMorocco pic.twitter.com/XNZWUvlPiL

— José Andrés 🇺🇸🇪🇸🇺🇦 (@chefjoseandres) September 11, 2023

Here are some organisations that are collecting donations to help the people of Morocco.

As heroic rescue missions continue around the clock, sometimes with people digging through rubble with their bare hands in towns and villages that are virtually demolished, there are organisations collecting donations to accelerate lifesaving efforts.

#Maroc #Morocco #Marruecos #Fas #earthquakes #المغرب pic.twitter.com/Xy0yWdEOcm

— Neslihan Atagül Fan (@kneslihanatagul) September 11, 2023

This video just sent to me by the @WCKitchen team in Morocco.. WCK will always be getting meals to people after disaster in whatever way needed.. cars, food truck, boats, helicopter… and at the same time as bringing meals we can also help with necessary evacuations for people… pic.twitter.com/t7TDY0by9Z

— José Andrés 🇺🇸🇪🇸🇺🇦 (@chefjoseandres) September 11, 2023

Here are some of them:

Bank Al-Maghrib

Mohammed VI of Morocco called for the creation of a bank account supported by the country’s Treasury and Bank Al-Maghrib, the Moroccan central bank, to receive relief contributions from citizens and the global community, including private and public institutions who wish to help.

pic.twitter.com/5pqGVTuX4g

— Bank Al-Maghrib (@BankAlMaghrib) September 10, 2023

Banque Alimentaire du Maroc (Morocco Food Bank)

The non-profit collects food from various donors and redistributes it through a network of associations and social protection institutions. They shared their bank details on social media, encouraging people to support their efforts.

Donations are also possible through their website here.

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Une publication partagée par Banque Alimentaire (@banquealimentaire)

Doctors Without Borders (MSF)

The independent organisation is providing medical care and equipment to affected areas and is mobilising teams to assess needs in the aftermath. It is accepting donations here.

GlobalGiving

The US-based non-profit agency that connects donors with grassroots projects around the world is also raising money for victims. According to the organisation, the funds will be allocated to provide food, water and medicine to survivors, in addition to shelter and temporary housing.

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC)

The IFRC, which has a Morocco-based team, is also accepting general donations for its Disaster Relief Emergency Fund, as they “assess the need for an emergency appeal” in grief-stricken Morocco.

In a statement, the organisation said that it disbursed one million Swiss francs (more than $1.1m) from their Disaster Response Emergency Fund to support Moroccan Red Crescent activity on the ground.

UNICEF USA

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres confirmed that the United Nations is ready to assist the government of Morocco.

According to the UN, consultations are ongoing to identify areas where the UN and its partners can provide support in the coming hours and days.

UNICEF, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, is working to support affected children and families in Morocco.

World Opinions + Aljazeera

L’article How to support Morocco’s earthquake victims.. Video est apparu en premier sur زوايا ميادين | Mayadin Columns.

The death toll from Cyclone Freddy in Malawi and Mozambique has risen past 200 on Tuesday, after the record-breaking storm triggered floods and landslips.

Rescue workers warned that more victims were likely as they scoured destroyed neighbourhoods for survivors even as hopes dwindled.

The fierce storm hit south-eastern Africa at the weekend, in its second landfall since late February after brewing off Australia and traversing the Indian Ocean.

Malawi’s government said at least 190 people were killed with 584 injured and 37 missing, while authorities in neighbouring Mozambique reported 20 deaths and 24 injured.

“The situation is very dire,” said Guilherme Botelho, emergency project coordinator for Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in Malawi. “There are many casualties, either wounded, missing or dead, and the numbers will only increase in the coming days.”

Many people died in mudslides that washed away homes in the country’s commercial capital, Blantyre.

Across the country, nearly 59,000 people have been affected and more than 19,000 displaced, with many now sheltering in schools and churches.

Freddy was still causing localised rains and winds in southern Malawi on Tuesday, but conditions were expected to ease from Wednesday evening, according to the country’s meteorological service.

People in Malawi and Mozambique picking up the pieces after fierce storm swept through at the weekend

In Chilobwe, a township outside Blantyre, stunned survivors surveyed flattened houses and other structures as rain continued to fall.

John Witman, who is in his 80s, stood in front of what had been his son-in-law’s home. It was now just rocks and gushing water, the house having been swept away.

“I wish that we could find him, and find closure. We feel helpless because no one is here to help us,” he said.

In Chimwankhunda, a few kilometres away, Steve Panganani Matera pointed to a mound of mud. “There were plenty of houses, but they are all gone,” Matera said. “There are plenty of bodies down there in the mud.”

Fourteen-year-old Mayeso Chinthenga said his family’s house was taken by the cascading mud. “We were out looking for firewood when we saw rocks rolling down the mountain so we ran for safety. Some of our neighbours died on the spot,” he said at a nearby school.

President Lazarus Chakwera, who returned to the country on Tuesday after attending a United Nations conference in Qatar, hailed the relief efforts by volunteers. “We have arrived to a devastated nation,” he said in a statement.

Cyclone Freddy reached landlocked Malawi early on Monday after sweeping through Mozambique at the weekend.

The storm has unofficially broke the World Meteorological Organization’s benchmark as the longest-lasting tropical cyclone on record, set in 1994 for a 31-day storm named John.

Freddy became a named storm on 6 February, making landfall in Madagascar on 21 February and sweeping over the island before reaching Mozambique on 24 February.

It then returned to the Indian Ocean and gathered new energy over its warm waters, before reversing course to come back much more powerful at the weekend, packing wind gusts of up to 200 km/h (125mph), according to Emmanuel Cloppet of the Meteo-France weather service.

Meteorologists say that cyclones tracking across the entire Indian Ocean are very infrequent – the last occurred in 2000 – and that Freddy’s loopback was even more exceptional.

“It’s a very rare thing that these cyclones feed themselves over and over again,” said climate expert Coleen Vogel at South Africa’s University of the Witwatersrand.

The cyclone has piled more woes on Malawi, already grappling with the deadliest cholera outbreak in its history, which has killed more than 1,600 people since last year.

Fears of a cholera resurgence after the outbreak started in the aftermath of another tropical storm last year have been exacerbated by vaccines shortages.

World Opinions – Agencies

L’article Africa. Cyclone Freddy death toll passes 200 as rescue workers warn more victims will be found est apparu en premier sur زوايا ميادين | Mayadin Columns.

More than 45,000 people have been killed in the earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria, and the toll is expected to soar with some 264,000 apartments in Turkey destroyed and many still missing in the country’s worst modern disaster. 

Twelve days after the quake hit, three people, including a child, were rescued alive from the rubble of a building in Antakya city of southern Turkey on Saturday, state news agency Anadolu said.

A journalist for Turkish television channel NTV later reported that one of those found had died after being taken to hospital.

NTV broadcast images of rescuers placing the rescued people onto stretchers after they had spent 296 hours trapped in the rubble. 

The death toll in Turkey stands at 39,672, while neighbouring Syria has reported more than 5,800 deaths. Syria’s toll has not changed for days.

While many international rescue teams have left the vast quake zone, domestic teams continued to search through flattened buildings on Saturday hoping to find more survivors who defied the odds. Experts say most rescues occur in the 24 hours following an earthquake.

Hakan Yasinoglu, in his 40s, was rescued in the southern province of Hatay, 278 hours after the 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck in the dead of night on February 6, the Istanbul Fire Brigade said.

Earlier, Osman Halebiye, 14, and Mustafa Avci, 34, were saved in Turkey’s historic city of Antakya, known in ancient times as Antioch. As Avci was carried away, he was put on a video call with his parents, who showed him his newborn baby.

“I had completely lost all hope. This is a true miracle. They gave me my son back. I saw the wreckage and I thought nobody could be saved alive from there,” his father said.

Aid organisations say the survivors will need help for months to come with so much crucial infrastructure destroyed.

In neighbouring Syria, already shattered by more than a decade of civil war, the bulk of fatalities have been in the northwest, an area controlled by insurgents who are at war with President Bashar al-Assad – a conflict that has complicated efforts to aid people affected by the earthquake.

Thousands of Syrians who had sought refuge in Turkey from their country’s civil war have returned to their homes in the war zone, at least for now.

Anger grows 

Neither Turkey nor Syria have said how many people are still missing following the quake.

For families still waiting to retrieve relatives in Turkey, there is growing anger over what they see as corrupt building practices and deeply flawed urban development that resulted in the destruction of thousands of homes and businesses.

One such building was the Ronesans Rezidans (Renaissance Residence), which keeled over in Antakya, killing hundreds.

“It was said to be earthquake-safe, but you can see the result,” said Hamza Alpaslan, 47, whose brother had lived in the apartment block. “It’s in horrible condition. There is neither cement nor proper iron in it. It’s a real hell.”

Turkey has promised to investigate anyone suspected of responsibility for the collapse of buildings and has ordered the detention of more than 100 suspects, including developers.

The United Nations on Thursday appealed for more than $1 billion in funds for the Turkish relief operation, and has launched a $400 million appeal for Syrians.

World Opinions – FRANCE 24 – AFP and Reuters

L’article Turkey-Syria death toll tops 45,000; three found alive 13 days after quakes est apparu en premier sur زوايا ميادين | Mayadin Columns.

African countries are innocent victims of the war in Ukraine and Russia should help ease their suffering, the head of the African Union has told Vladimir Putin at a meeting in Sochi.

After three hours of talks, Macky Sall said the Russian leader had promised to ease the export of cereals and fertiliser.

However, he did not give any details.

Prior to the conflict, more than 40% of wheat consumed in Africa came from Russia and Ukraine.

The war has exacerbated shortages caused by bad harvests and insecurity.

Food prices have shot up across the continent since Russian invaded Ukraine 100 days ago, pushing huge numbers towards hunger.

Chad has declared a national food emergency. A third of the population needs food aid, according to the UN and the government has appealed for international assistance

Mr Sall, who is Senegal’s president, told Mr Putin he should be “aware that our countries, even if they are far from the theatre [of action], are victims of this economic crisis” caused by the conflict.

He said he was also pleading on behalf of other countries like “Asia, the Middle East and also Latin America”.

Mr Putin said exports could either go through the Black Sea port of Odessa “which is difficult because Ukrainians have to clear mines” or via the Russia-controlled port of Mariupol on the Sea of Azov, the AFP news agency quotes Mr Sall as saying.

Ukraine’s ports in the Black Sea have been largely blocked for exports since the conflict began.

Russia’s defence ministry says that vessels carrying grain can leave Ukraine’s ports in the Black Sea via “humanitarian corridors”, with Russia ready to guarantee their safety, Reuters quotes the Interfax news agency as saying. However, it is not clear how these corridors would work.

Before the meeting, Mr Putin said he was always on the side of Africa, but didn’t explicitly mention the continent’s food crisis.

Like many African countries, Senegal has avoided taking sides in the conflict and the Senegalese leader also said food supplies should be “outside” the West’s sanctions on Russia. He said he had made this point when he spoke to the European Council earlier in the week.

On Friday, US President Joe Biden dismissed the idea that the West bore responsibility for the global price rises.

“This is a Putin price hike. Putin’s war has raised the price of food because Ukraine and Russia are two of the world’s major bread baskets for wheat and corn, the basic product for so many foods around the world,” he said.

World Opinions + BBC News

L’article Africa is victim of Ukraine war, Macky Sall tells Vladimir Putin est apparu en premier sur زوايا ميادين | Mayadin Columns.

A 21-year-old man faces 10 counts of murder in connection with Monday’s mass shooting at a grocery store in the US city of Boulder, Colorado, local authorities said during a press conference on Tuesday as President Joe Biden called for stricter gun rules.

Biden sent his condolences to the victims of Monday’s attack by what appears to be a lone gunman and asked Congress to do more to regulate weapons.

“I urge my colleagues in the House and Senate to act. We can ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines in this country,” he said Tuesday at the White House.

US legislators have promised to address gun violence. Vice President Kamala Harris, called the shootings ‘tragic’.

“It’s absolutely baffling, it’s 10 people going about three day living their lives, not bothering anybody. A police officer who is performing his duties, and with great courage and heroism,” Harris speaking at White House on Tuesday before Biden’s address.

The 10 victims were named at the Boulder press conference, Denny Strong, 20, Nevin Stanisic, 23, Rikki Olds, 25, Tralona Bartkowiak, 49, Suzanne Fountain, 59, Teri Leiker, 51, Eric Talley, 51, Kevin Mahoney, 61, Lynn Murray, 62 and Jody Waters, 65.

Eric Talley was an 11-year veteran of the Boulder police force. Talley was the father of seven children and had recently been looking for a less dangerous job, according to a statement released by his father.

Boulder Police Chief Maris Herold said these were people “who started their day with a cup of coffee and reading the morning paper. Perhaps getting their kids ready and putting on a wear coat to go out. Maybe they’re making last minute Spring Break plans, but none of them expected that this would be their last day here on the planet.”

The suspect, identified as Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, of Arvada, Colorado, was in stable condition after he was wounded in the leg in an exchange of gunfire with responding police officers at the King Soopers grocery outlet in Boulder, about 45 km (28 miles) northwest of Denver, on Monday afternoon. Alissa was expected to be released from the hospital and jailed on Tuesday.

He has been charged with 10 counts of murder in the first degree.

Authorities have not yet offered a possible motive for the bloodshed.

Monday’s attack drew hundreds of police officers to the scene and sent terrified shoppers and employees fleeing for safety. The massacre added to the the list   tragic list of mass killings in the US, including those in the Rocky Mountain state:  the 2012 mass shooting at a movie theater in Aurora and the 1999 rampage at Columbine High School near Littleton.

“My heart aches today,” Governor Jared Polis told the briefing. “Not only did we lose 10 lives, but this is real horror and terror for all of us.”

Today Colorado mourns the loss of the 10 victims of the #BoulderShooting. My heart aches for their loved ones. pic.twitter.com/1jb6QB3aeQ

— Governor Jared Polis (@GovofCO) March 23, 2021

Witnesses in Colorado described to the Reuters news agency a chaotic and frightening scene inside the store.

Ryan Borowski, 37, went in looking for something to satisfy a sugar craving. He had picked out a 12-pack of soda and a bag of chips when he heard shots ring out, sending him scurrying for the store’s back exit.

“It was pretty terrifying,” he said. “Fastest fire drill I’ve ever been in.”

Sarah Moonshadow, 42, was at the checkout line with her adult son, Nicholas, when the gunfire began.

“And I said, ‘Nicholas, get down.’ And Nicholas ducked. And we just started listening and there, just repetitive shots … and I just said, ‘Nicholas, run,’” she said.

Moonshadow said she tried to attend to a victim she saw lying on the pavement outside the store, but her son pulled her away, telling her, ‘We have to go.’” She broke down in sobs recounting their ordeal, adding, “I couldn’t help anybody.”

The carnage came six days after a gunman went on a killing spree in the Atlanta area, fatally shooting eight people, mostly Asian women, at three day spas before he was arrested.

For the second time in a week, another community was shattered by a mass shooting, this time in Boulder, Colorado.

We must put an end to gun violence in America, and that means we can’t wait any longer to take action that’ll keep guns out of the wrong hands.

— Chuck Schumer (@chuckschumer) March 23, 2021

US legislators have promised to address gun violence. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said during a floor speech on Tuesday the “Senate is going to debate and address the epidemic of gun violence in this country”.

Democrats previously tried to pass background checks for gun purchases in 2013, with support from four Republicans, but four Democrats broke ranks to block the bill.

Schumer, who leads a slim Democratic majority in the Senate, along with Democrat-controlled House of Representatives and presidency, said he already “committed to bringing universal background checks legislation to the floor of the Senate”, saying this time things will be “different”.

SOURCE : AL JAZEERA AND NEWS AGENCIES

L’article US authorities name 10 victims, suspect in Colorado shooting est apparu en premier sur زوايا ميادين | Mayadin Columns.