The Diplomat
The King of Morocco, Mohammed VI, yesterday sent a message of thanks to Lieutenant Colonel Juan Saldaña, head of the Spanish Military Emergency Unit (UME, for its acronym in Spanish) contingent, for the “generous efforts and recognized professionalism” shown by its members during the relief and rescue work following the earthquake that struck the Al Haouz region.
In a message transmitted by the official government website, the King praised the active and effective participation of the members of the Spanish rescue team who, “together with their Moroccan brothers”, deployed all their efforts and means during the search and rescue operations. These efforts “have deeply touched us and the Moroccan people”, he continued.
The Sovereign also expressed his “great pride and appreciation for this generous participation”, which embodies the “depth of the bonds of solid friendship and active solidarity that unite the Spanish and Moroccan peoples”, and conveyed to the Spanish rescuers, “on their own behalf and on behalf of the Moroccan people, his sincere thanks and heartfelt gratitude for the generous efforts and recognized professionalism they have shown during these operations”.
The Monarch also instructed Lieutenant Colonel Saldaña to convey “his personal gratitude and that of all the Moroccan people to all the members of the Spanish contingent who have shown bravery and altruism and have demonstrated the depth of the feelings of sincere affection and active solidarity they feel for their second country”.
For his part, the Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity of Libya, Abdul Hamid Dbeibé, yesterday thanked the Spanish rescue team of the Valencian NGO IAE (Intervention, Aid and Emergencies) for its humanitarian work in the cities of Derna and Susah after the recent floods in the country, which caused at least 11,300 deaths in Derna alone, the most affected locality.
“All recognition to the Spanish rescue team that announced the end of its work in Derna and Susah, thanking their voluntary effort in coordination with the Center for Support and Emergency Medicine, and valuing the continued work of the other rescue teams that came to help from various countries,” posted Dbeibé on his account on the social network X, former Twitter. For its part, IAE reported yesterday on social networks that government authorities had rewarded the twelve volunteers with merit medals.
The Prime Minister’s message came two days before the meeting that the acting President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, will hold tomorrow in New York with Abdul Hamid Dbeibé in the margins of the United Nations High Level Week. During the meeting, formally requested by Libya, both leaders will discuss Spain’s aid to this country after the passage of the storm Daniel, according to Moncloa sources. Dbeibé presides over the Government of National Unity of Libya, based in Tripoli and recognized by the international community, including Spain.