Morocco accepts limited aid while expressing gratitude for international solidarity

Search and rescue efforts have continued more than 48 hours after the devastating earthquake hit

A man walks near Tinmel Mosque, which was damaged by the deadly earthquake, in Tinmel, Morocco. Reuters

People make donations at a blood transfusion centre in Marrakesh after the powerful earthquake. EPA

Efforts to help earthquake survivors in the village of Moulay Brahim in central Morocco. AFP

People are carried from rubble in Talat Yaqoub. Reuters

Items are donated to Morocco at a collection point in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. AFP

A man carries some of his belongings after his home was destroyed in the earthquake in Moulay Brahim. AFP

People queue to donate blood in Marrakesh. EPA

The Morocco football team's star defender Achraf Hakimi donates blood at a clinic in Agadir. AFP

The earthquake in Morocco has killed at least 2,122 people, according to the country’s Interior Ministry. Reuters

A villager in the rubble of destroyed buildings in El Haouz region of Morocco. Bloomberg

Rescue teams and villagers during search and rescue operations after the earthquake in Tafeghaghte, in El Haouz region of Morocco. Bloomberg

Villagers search the rubble of destroyed buildings after the earthquake near Amizmiz, in El Haouz region of Morocco. Bloomberg

Villagers carry out a search and rescue mission in the rubble of destroyed buildings after the earthquake in Tafeghaghte, in El Haouz region. Bloomberg

A woman comforts a child outside a destroyed house in Tafeghaghte, in El Haouz region. Bloomberg

An emergency worker and a dog search for bodies in the rubble in Amizmiz, Morocco. Reuters

Villagers survey the rubble of destroyed buildings after the earthquake near Amizmiz, in El Haouz district. Bloomberg

Villagers survey the rubble of destroyed buildings after the earthquake near Amizmiz. Bloomberg

A destroyed building near Amizmiz, in El Haouz region. Bloomberg

Villagers among the rubble of destroyed buildings near Amizmiz, in El Haouz region. Bloomberg

A villager near tents outside their destroyed house following an earthquake in Tafeghaghte, in the El Haouz region. Bloomberg

Villagers walk among the rubble near Amizmiz. Bloomberg

A villager near Amizmiz, in El Haouz region. Bloomberg

People camp on the roadside after the deadly earthquake in Imgdal, Morocco. Reuters

The Adnoc building in Abu Dhabi lights up in the colours of the Moroccan flag in solidarity with those affected by the earthquake. Abu Dhabi Media Office

Follow the latest updates on the Morocco earthquake

Morocco has limited the amount of aid it is accepting in response to Friday's devastating earthquake that killed nearly 2,500 people, after several countries offered assistance.

In a statement, Morocco's government said the kingdom welcomes acts of solidarity by the international community but has conducted assessments and will subsequently accept aid from Spain, Qatar, the UK and the UAE.

"With the progress of intervention operations, the assessment of possible needs could evolve, which would make it possible to resort to offers of support presented by other friendly countries, according to the specific needs of each stage," the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.

Germany, which has offered aid and maintains good ties with Morocco, has said it does not see any indications that Morocco's decision to forego offers of assistance is political.

"Diplomatic relations between Germany and Morocco are good," a German Foreign Ministry representative said on Monday, Morocco thanked Germany for its offer of help, he said.

As Germany learned from deadly flooding in 2021 in the Ahr valley, aid co-ordination is important during major disasters to ensure rescue workers do not impede each other, the spokesman said.

"I'm sure that they [Morocco] have thought very carefully about which forces can be deployed where and how they can get there, what transport capacities are available, for example."

Germany is among several countries, notably France, that have said they stand ready to help if asked.

"Morocco is a sovereign country and it's up to it to organise the aid," French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna told BFMTV on Monday.

Ms Colonna said France has released $5.4 million to help NGOs in Morocco.

Search and rescue

People spent a third night outside after their homes were destroyed, or because they were too afraid of aftershocks that could cause further destruction to their homes.

Rescuers raced against the time on Monday, more than 48 hours after the earthquake first hit in the High Atlas Mountains, as teams from Spain, the UK and Qatar carried out efforts on the ground southwest of Marrakesh.

As of Monday, the death toll has gone up to 2,497 with 2,476 people injured, the state news agency reported.

Saudi Arabia said it has set up an aid corridor to Morocco, through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSRelief), and will include a search and rescue team from the civil defence and teams from the Saudi Red Crescent Authority.

The gesture is “an extension of the humanitarian role played by the kingdom of Saudi Arabia in standing with those affected and in need around the world in various crises and tribulations", said Abdulla Al Rabbeah, who is head of KSRelief.

In Imgdal, a village about 75km south of Marrakesh, women and children huddled early on Monday morning under makeshift tents set up along the road and next to damaged buildings. Some gathered around an open fire. Further south, a car stood crushed by boulders that had fallen from the cliff.

Authorities have yet to issue a figure of how many people are still missing.