Dutch rescue teams set to join Morocco's earthquake response, Dutch media says

In a humanitarian effort, a Dutch search and rescue team is heading to Morocco this Wednesday to provide necessary support in relief efforts in the aftermath of the disastrous earthquake that struck the region of Al-Haouz on Friday 8, according to Dutch-affiliated media.

The team comprises six individuals and four highly-trained dogs from the Signi Search Dogs organization, a non-profit foundation that aims to locate missing people in the water, in disaster, for complex missing persons, and in cold cases using search dogs and skilled teams.

According to the same source, the Signi team remains hopeful and believes that it’s not too late to locate survivors buried under the debris of collapsed buildings even days after the earthquake struck.

The team is well-equipped with search dogs and thermal camera designed to locate both survivors and human remains amidst the wreckage. A spokesperson from Signi highlighted the importance of the retrieval of deceased bodies in offering a profound sense of relief and closure to the grieving families.

“In principle, you prefer to go via a call from the country itself. That was the case with Turkey, but if a country does not make an appeal, you can look locally at what the options are. That is easier for non-government organizations.” The spokesperson explained.

Even though Moroccan authorities have not made an official appeal for assistance from Signi, the private aid organization can travel to Morocco and offer aid.

The team is set to depart from Brussels at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday and head straight to the affected area upon arrival. The team is small and flexible in offering swift aid wherever it is needed.

It is scheduled that the Signi team will spend one week in Morocco, tirelessly providing the necessary support and expertise to allocate the victims who are still trapped under the rubble and extract the deceased bodies.

So far, the Moroccan authorities officially agreed to collaborate with rescue teams from Spain, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.

The offers of support extended by various friendly countries are assessed based on the specific needs pinpointed by Moroccan authorities in the field.