Egypt on Tuesday declared a three-day mourning following the earthquake and storm that ravaged Morocco and Libya in recent days, saying it’s in solidarity with the affected countries.
Moroccan television reported on Monday that the death toll from an earthquake that struck the country had reached 2,862, while the number of injured reached 2,562.
Since most of the areas affected by the earthquake are difficult to reach, the authorities have not issued any estimates for the number of missing people.
Moroccan rescuers, supported by foreign teams, continue to search for survivors and provide assistance to hundreds of people who have lost their homes.
In Libya, the head of the government appointed by Parliament, Osama Hammad, said in a statement that Storm Daniel “caused about 2,000 deaths and thousands of missing people.”
According to an Egyptian government spokesman, Ahmed Fahmy, it’s in “in solidarity with our brothers in Morocco and Libya” two neighbouring North African countries hit by natural disasters.
“President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi extended his as well as the Egyptian people’s sincere condolences over the victims of the humanitarian catastrophes in Morocco and Libya,” Fahmy said.
“Three days of mourning were declared in the Arab Republic of Egypt in solidarity with the brothers in Morocco and Libya over the victims,” he added.
According to Arab News, El-Sisi gave directives to the Egyptian Armed Forces to offer immediate humanitarian aid to both states during a meeting with a number of senior commanders on Tuesday.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry reaffirmed Egypt’s support for and full solidarity with Morocco following the earthquake, which has caused thousands of deaths and injuries, during a phone call with Nasser Bourita, Morocco’s minister of foreign affairs, African cooperation and expatriates.
Ahmed Abu Zeid, spokesman for the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that Bourita appreciated the condolences sent to its leadership and people, as well as Cairo’s decision to declare a state of mourning.
