فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
Lisbon, Portugal: The Portuguese government expressed its gratitude to Morocco and other countries for their support in combating the wildfires ravaging the northern part of the country. “The Portuguese government thanks the EU, Spain, Italy, France, Greece, and Morocco for their help in fighting the fires in Portugal. This is fundamental support and a recognized example of solidarity,” the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
The General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) announced in a statement the dispatch of two Canadair aircraft and a “Casa” type support aircraft on September 18, 2024, to Monte Real in Portugal, to contribute to the efforts of the Portuguese authorities in combating the wildfires in the northern part of the country. This support is part of a joint effort also involving Spanish, French, and Italian aircraft.
The statement added that four crews and a technical team from the Firefighting Squadron of the 3rd Air Base of the Royal Air Force were mobilized as part of this mission, which came in response to a request for support from the Portuguese authorities.
Further Reading: Forest fires in Portugal: On royal instructions, Morocco deploys 2 Canadairs
This marks the third time since 2016 that Morocco has intervened to fight forest fires in Portugal. Moroccan Canadair aircraft carried out approximately 70 sorties totaling 230 flying hours during their interventions in 2016 and 2017, according to the Moroccan army.
Morocco’s recurring participation in fighting wildfires in Portugal reflects the deep ties of solidarity and cooperation that exist between the two countries, covering many areas of common interest, according to the Moroccan army.
The Kingdom of Morocco has a large fleet of Canadair CL415 and CL215 water bomber aircraft. Since 2011, when the first of these aircraft were delivered, they have proven their effectiveness in fighting forest fires both inside and outside Morocco.
UN Calls for Effective Climate Action
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for climate action commensurate with the scale and urgency of the crisis. “From floods in central Europe to forest fires in Portugal, extreme weather events are leaving a trail of deadly destruction across Europe. My thoughts are with all those affected,” he wrote on X on Wednesday.
Conclusion
This joint cooperation between Morocco and Portugal reflects the deep ties of solidarity and cooperation that exist between the two countries, covering many areas of common interest. It is hoped that these efforts will be able to meet the climate and environmental challenges facing the world today.
