British Citizens Stranded in Morocco Repatriated to Gibraltar Amid COVID-19 Lockdown

This repatriation operation is the result of long negotiations with the Moroccan Ministry of the Interior, reports The Express. The United Kingdom and Morocco had engaged in talks after the Moroccan authorities had announced the closure of borders in March.

"We had Gibraltarians stranded all over the world and we managed to help most of them return home," said Tito Danino, civil emergency officer. According to him, the largest group stuck abroad was in Morocco. "In the first few days, we managed to get some across to Ceuta," he said.

"It was difficult to get all the necessary contact details, the number and location of all these people who were in various parts of Morocco," he explained. "[...] We responded to their welfare needs and even sent the necessary medicines to some."

There are still 38 other Britons stranded in Morocco, who are awaiting repatriation. Among them, nationals who had initially planned to travel to Gibraltar by plane from Casablanca or Tangier. These flights had been canceled due to covid-19.