Is Algeria blocking rescue operations to Morocco?

The United Arab Emirates has organized a humanitarian air bridge to provide emergency assistance to Morocco after the powerful earthquake that struck the Marrakech region, causing significant material damage and enormous loss of life. But this Emirati solidarity is running into a difficulty. Humanitarian planes are forced to bypass Algerian airspace, currently closed, to reach Marrakech, reports Maroc Diplomatique.

This situation makes it more difficult to coordinate rescue and humanitarian aid operations. The day after the earthquake, the Algerian authorities announced the opening of their airspace to humanitarian transport flights to and from Morocco. But in reality, communication and coordination problems persist between the latter and the rescue operations.

The bypassing of Algerian airspace is an additional difficulty for the ongoing humanitarian operations. But it cannot constitute a blockage to the continuation of the efforts undertaken to help Morocco.