Belgian Tourists Stranded in Morocco for Months Amid COVID-19 Travel Restrictions

"It’s been more than three months that we’ve been stuck. We can’t go out; we’re like in prison." This is how Youssef, a Belgian stranded in Morocco, presented the situation, after several repatriation flights that had allowed the return to Belgium of 3,000 people.

Came to Casablanca to visit his family whom he had not seen for two years, the 23-year-old young man found himself stranded in Morocco due to the global health crisis that forced all countries into confinement, reports RTL Info.

Philippe Goffin, Minister of Foreign Affairs, had undertaken negotiations with his Moroccan counterparts for the repatriation of Belgians stuck in Morocco, which had closed its borders since March. According to a compromise, a return to Belgium was possible for reasons related to health, family separation, or socio-economic or professional situation.

Youssef then registered for his repatriation, arguing that he had a job promise in Belgium. But this did not materialize. He then tried to contact the embassy, unsuccessfully, the same source specifies.

The electricity, rent, and telephone subscription bills in Belgium are starting to accumulate for Youssef, without a job and without money.

After the last repatriation flight on May 15, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs invited the Belgians stranded in Morocco to be patient, as deconfinement had started in some countries. Unfortunately in Morocco, the situation was worsening and the authorities had extended the state of health emergency, much to Youssef’s dismay: "We are forced to have a certificate to go out and we don’t have it unfortunately... We have been in prison for more than three months," Youssef said.

After negotiations after negotiations, it was decided on the repatriation via "facilitated" commercial flights, despite the closure of the borders. In this sense, the Belgians stranded in Morocco are invited to register via a form on the website of the Belgian Embassy in Rabat. They are then repatriated via the flights operated by the private operator TUI Fly twice a week to Brussels from Casablanca.

Contacted by the embassy on June 14, Youssef finally took his return flight to Belgium on June 16. Upon arrival, he was placed in quarantine for 14 days for safety reasons. But several Belgians are still stranded in the kingdom, he laments.