American Student Returns Home After Months Stranded in Morocco Due to COVID-19

The story goes back to November 2019 when this young student arrived in Morocco to attend a study program along with other students.

While they were waiting to attend these courses, the news came on March 2nd: Morocco had just recorded its first case of coronavirus. To contain the pandemic, the authorities took several preventive decisions, including raising awareness among the population. According to the young student, several vehicles paraded through the streets, broadcasting these messages throughout the day, urging the population to stay at home and only go out in case of emergency.

This news finally turned everything upside down for this American national and her roommates, especially her roommate who burst into tears. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, their study program was canceled. As if that wasn’t enough, they were supposed to return home within the next three days. A race against time had just begun, as they had to find a flight urgently. The numerous searches carried out with their roommates to find a flight bore fruit. But they had to shell out about $900.

Thinking she had been rescued to finally return to her country, another surprise awaited her: the Moroccan airspace had just closed by government decision. Her numerous attempts, back and forth between the embassy and her place of residence, did not prosper. No solution was envisaged by the American authorities.

"We felt abandoned by our country, and especially our university," she said. As the days went by, the infections accelerated. Meanwhile, the search continued to find an available flight. The miracle happened a few days later and they were able to board a repatriation flight for the British stranded in Morocco.