French Woman’s Truck Stranded in Morocco After Earthquake Aid Mission Goes Awry

"It all started with good intentions. I wanted to help this association by reading on the internet, its willingness to go to Morocco to bring donations to the population. It was looking for a truck. I had one. So I contacted them to provide my help," Fatima, based in Gers, in a small village next to L’Isle-Jourdain, tells La Dépêche. For several months, her vehicle has been blocked in Tangier. "I went to Tangier twice at my own expense. Customs tells me that nothing can be done. It acknowledges that the truck belongs to me, but not what has been stored inside. It refuses to unload it due to lack of space. As a result, some food products have expired, like powdered milk for infants. And I’m at a dead end," she laments.

Fatima is angry with the organizer of the convoy. "I had confidence in them," she indignantly accuses, accusing the association of "lying" to its donors in Rabastens by claiming that the material had been distributed. "It’s totally false," the Gersoise denies. She also expressed her intention to "file a complaint" against the association. She adds that she has already "made an appointment with the mayor to find a solution to this case."

Sofiane, president of the RBT 818 music association, is unhappy with Fatima. She accuses him of "polluting people’s lives." "This lady came with us to Morocco. It’s true that we got stuck in Tangier and that we didn’t manage to bring the donations to the Moroccan population. But we never claimed that we had done it," the association leader defends himself. He continues: "Faced with the refusal of customs, with the members of the association, we left for Morocco to find a solution. She came with us. For several days, she was hosted at my aunt’s place. She even had her two children come. Then we had to come back to France. She stayed a few more days to recover the truck. Back in France, we sent her a check to pay the customs fine. This check was cashed. I have all the proof." He says he is ready to face the competent legal authorities in case of a complaint.