Algeria closed its airspace to Moroccan planes in 2021, against the backdrop of a diplomatic crisis between the two Maghreb countries.
The Algerian authorities also offered assistance to their Moroccan neighbor.
A strong symbol. Algiers announced this Saturday the opening of its airspace to humanitarian flights to allow the delivery of aid to Morocco, hit by a violent earthquake during the night from Friday to Saturday. “The senior Algerian authorities have (…) decided to open the airspace to flights for the transport of humanitarian aid and the wounded,” the Algerian presidency said in a press release.
Furthermore, the Algerian authorities affirmed to be “fully prepared to provide humanitarian aid and to mobilize all material and human resources in solidarity with the brotherly Moroccan people, in the event of a request from the Kingdom of Morocco”, and also presented their condolences. .
Airspace closed since 2021, borders since 1994
Algiers closed its airspace to all Moroccan civil and military aircraft on September 22, 2021, after breaking diplomatic relations with Rabat, against the backdrop of a serious crisis between the two Maghreb rivals. The borders between the two countries have been closed since 1994. They have since maintained terrible relations, in a context of regional rivalry exacerbated by their antagonism over the disputed territory of Western Sahara. Last July, however, the King of Morocco, Mohammed VI, indicated in a speech that he wanted a “return to normal” and the “reopening of the borders” between the two countries.
According to the latest provisional report, communicated by the Moroccan authorities, 1,037 people died in the most violent earthquake the Shereef kingdom has experienced, when 1,204 were injured, including 721 in critical condition. More than half of the deaths (542) were recorded in Al-Haouz, the epicenter of the earthquake, and in Taroudant (321) further south, two mountainous rural areas in the heart of the High Atlas, said the same source. Rescue operations continue, although the earthquake caused significant material damage.
Home-International-Earthquake in Morocco: Algeria opens its airspace to humanitarian flights despite broken relations
