landmarks across the UAE were adorned with the colors of the Moroccan flag on Sunday night, following a devastating earthquake that struck Morocco, claiming over 2,100 lives.
The severe magnitude 6.8 tremor devastated Moroccan mountain villages last Friday night, promoting the UAE to swiftly offer assistance. His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE President, instructed the initiation of an air bridge to hasten the delivery of essential relief materials and support to the afflicted regions.
من الإمارات … قلوبنا مع المغرب وأهلها 🇲🇦 pic.twitter.com/SktaVa6iin
— UAEGOV (@UAEmediaoffice) September 10, 2023
Furthermore, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, commissioned Dubai Police to extend aid and dispatch rescue and ambulance teams to Morocco to assist in the rescue operations.
As a symbolic gesture of unity and support, iconic structures including the Adnoc building in Abu Dhabi and the Burj Khalifa in Dubai lit up in Moroccan flag colors, a powerful testament to the strong ties between the two nations. The UAE Media Office disseminated a touching video of the luminous displays through social platform X, echoing the heartfelt sentiment, “From the Emirates…our hearts are with Morocco and its people.”
Aiding in the connectivity between the thousands of Moroccan expatriates residing in the UAE and their families back home, telecom giants Etisalat and du facilitated free unlimited calling to Morocco on Saturday, a move greeted with deep appreciation during this time of crisis.
As part of the extensive relief measures, the Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) has been actively implementing a relief programme, disbursing vital supplies such as tents, blankets, food, medical aid, and hygiene kits to those in need. The ERC’s emergency team is incessantly working on ground, assessing the humanitarian conditions and responding promptly to the urgent necessities of the victims.