African Nations Block Repatriation of COVID-19 Victims’ Bodies, Families Face Difficult Choices

These three countries have suspended, or even prohibited, the repatriation of the bodies of their nationals who died from covid-19 abroad, reports Franceinfo. If the procedure for repatriating the bodies of deceased nationals was already particularly grueling, it is even more so in these times of coronavirus. Faced with this difficulty, families have no choice but to bury the bodies in the host or adoptive countries, while ensuring compliance with the restrictive measures imposed to curb the spread of the virus.

It is clear that the number of Moroccans who died abroad from the effects of covid-19 continues to increase, exceeding the number of deaths recorded in the kingdom. Since the appearance of the new coronavirus, 400 Moroccans residing abroad (MREs) have been swept away by the disease, compared to 174 in Morocco. "Normally, 70% of Moroccan families repatriate their dead," the same source specifies. Except that none of these bodies have been repatriated to date.

They were buried in Muslim squares, where it is difficult to find places due to the many deaths of Muslims recorded in the countries of residence. In France, as well as in Belgium for example, finding a place to bury a Muslim who died from covid-19 is very difficult. Muslim organizations have also raised this issue and are striving to find solutions with local authorities.