THE HAGUE, 26/02/04 - The Dutch government sent the Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team to the earthquake-afflicted area in Morocco yesterday. It is the first time the recently formed units have been active.

USAR, consisting of 40 rescue workers and nurses and 4 tracker dogs, left Eindhoven in two C-130 Hercules freight planes with about 15 tonnes of goods, including specialist rescue equipment, for the disaster area near the town of Al Hoceima. Morocco requested assistance on Tuesday evening in its search for victims, the Foreign Ministry explained.

USAR was set up on 1 February by the Home Affairs Ministry for the purpose of searching for and rescuing trapped or buried disaster victims at home or abroad. The unit is subdivided into two rescue teams, a coordination staff group, a logistics group, a safety and a communications officer. It is not yet clear how long the team will remain in Morocco.

Queen Beatrix expressed her "deep sympathy" for the victims of the earthquake in Morocco in a telegram to the Moroccan King Mohammed VI yesterday, the Government Information Service (RVD) reported. There has been talk for some time of a visit to the Netherlands by the Moroccan King, who was invited by Crown Prince Willem-Alexander four years ago during his visit to Morocco. But no date has yet been set for this.