Xinhua News Agency, Taroudant, Morocco, September 15th: Witnessing the disaster relief provided by overseas Chinese in Morocco
Xinhua News Agency reporter Huo Jing and Wang Dongzhen
1,500 blankets, nearly 300 mattresses, 290 down quilts, and 12 gasoline generators are the first batch of relief materials raised by the Moroccan Chinese Chamber of Commerce for the earthquake-stricken areas in Morocco. Yan Qinxing, president of the Moroccan Chinese Chamber of Commerce, told reporters that these are urgently needed and scarce materials in the disaster area.
On September 14, at the material transfer point in Taroudant, Morocco, Chinese and local staff in Morocco unloaded the materials from the van and transferred to a small truck to enter the mountainous area.Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wang Dongzhen
After a strong earthquake occurred in Morocco late at night on the 8th local time, the Chinese Embassy in Morocco immediately coordinated the overseas Chinese groups in Morocco to participate in disaster relief. Overseas Chinese in Morocco acted quickly to donate money and materials to the disaster-stricken areas. At 10:00 on the 14th, Xinhua News Agency reporters followed the overseas Chinese relief supplies convoy organized by the Moroccan Chinese Chamber of Commerce, which set off from Taroudant, more than 200 kilometers southwest of Marrakech, and headed for the deep mountains of Atlas.
Cai Jie, vice president of the Moroccan Chinese Chamber of Commerce, told reporters that they raised supplies worth at least 334,000 Moroccan dirhams (approximately US$33,000) within 48 hours, and completed all preparations for going to the disaster area during this period.
On September 14, at the material transfer point in Taroudant, Morocco, Chinese and local staff in Morocco unloaded the materials from the van and transferred to a small truck to enter the mountainous area.Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wang Dongzhen
Due to the severe earthquake disaster, starting from the 11th, there has been a serious shortage of supplies such as blankets and generators in the Moroccan market, and the prices of some materials have increased significantly. The Moroccan Chinese Chamber of Commerce used various resources to raise supplies and purchased high-quality blankets. A 75 cubic meter container was filled to the brim with relief supplies.
At about 12 noon, the convoy arrived at the material transfer area. Because the disaster area is located deep in the mountains, the road conditions there are complicated and bad, and large container trucks cannot pass. Therefore, materials need to be transported to small trucks at this transit point before entering the mountains.
On September 14, at the material transfer point in Taroudant, Morocco, Chinese and local staff in Morocco unloaded the materials from the van and transferred to a small truck to enter the mountainous area.Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wang Dongzhen
Many Moroccan people came to help after seeing the container truck with the national flags of China and Morocco. Two local police officers also came to help, and they continued to express their gratitude to the convoy personnel. Soon, the small truck convoy drove deep into the mountains along the winding mountain road.
At around 3 p.m., the convoy arrived at a severely affected village. Seeing the generator being lifted out of the car, the surrounding villagers cheered. A young man said excitedly: “We finally have electricity.” He told reporters that due to the local power outage and no mobile phone signal, if he wanted to send news from here, even to report that he was safe, he could only spread it by word of mouth.
On September 14, members of the Moroccan Chinese Chamber of Commerce distributed candies to local children in a village on the roadside in Taroudant, Morocco.Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wang Dongzhen
When the generator was debugged, applause broke out. People of all ages were very happy and took photos with members of the chamber of commerce.
Seeing this scene, the guide Yusuf told reporters emotionally that in this area, the material transport team of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce should be the furthest relief team.
On September 14, members of the Moroccan Chinese Chamber of Commerce distributed candies to local children in a village on the roadside in Taroudant, Morocco.Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wang Dongzhen
Also traveling with us this time is a Moroccan girl named Dina. Her video of singing Chinese songs on the streets of Morocco has received over 100 million views. She has many fans on major social media platforms. After Dina posted the video she took of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce’s disaster relief online, she received many messages from netizens. She showed reporters these netizen comments and said emotionally: “Many Moroccan netizens expressed their gratitude to the overseas Chinese for their disaster relief efforts and praised them for their down-to-earth efforts to help the victims.”
Along the way, the reporter also deeply felt the local people’s enthusiasm and friendliness towards the Chinese, and received the smiles of many strangers, including the elderly, children and young people. On the evening of the 14th, when a Moroccan learned that the reporter was from China, he gave a thumbs up and said, “Thank you.”
Editor: Shu Mengqing
#Newsletter #Experienced #disaster #relief #work #overseas #Chinese #Morocco
2023-09-16 13:07:33
