COVID-19 Surge Hits Moroccan Community in Belgium as Deaths Rise Sharply

In a Facebook post, the member of the National Council of the Party of Authenticity and Modernity in Belgium, Latifa El Hamoud, drew attention to the alarming incidence rate in the country.

"While Belgium has followed in the footsteps of other European countries in terms of re-confinement, the incidence rate in such a small country remains the highest in Europe," she said.

"The average number of infections has reached 941 cases per 100,000 people, while the number of deaths has exceeded the 11,000 mark for a population of 11 million," added the parliamentarian, who wanted to draw attention to the alarming number of Covid-19 victims, recorded in particular among the MRE residing in Brussels.

"400,000 Moroccans live in the Belgian capital, or one-third of the population. Yet, one or more deaths are recorded among the members of our community, especially the first generation," she lamented.

"The majority of people admitted to intensive care are of Moroccan origin, at a time when the hospitals in the capital are saturated. The lack of transparency on the exact figure is causing great panic among the members of the community," she said, calling on the diplomatic authorities in Belgium to communicate on the number of Moroccans who are victims of the Coronavirus.