Foreign Residents in Morocco Stranded Abroad Plead for Repatriation

"A lot is being said about the repatriation of Moroccans actually residing in Morocco, but the French like my wife and I (73 years old) who have been permanent residents in Morocco for 10 years, we cannot be repatriated," says a French couple to Médias 24.

"We have been confined in France since March 21. Why such a ’discriminatory’ situation?", the couple indignantly. "We live in Morocco, pay all our taxes, and participate through our purchases in the economic life of the country. But when it comes to repatriating us, we no longer exist."

"For our repatriation, we are willing to pay for our trip and the cost of the hotel during the 9 days of quarantine. But we have received no response to the various emails sent to the embassy and the Moroccan consulate general in Paris, laments this couple. Like our Moroccan compatriots, we are tired of this situation and would like to return home."

A Moroccan couple also recounts their situation. This couple lived in France for 46 years, before settling in Morocco a few years ago. "My husband found himself alone in Marrakech since the beginning of the confinement. I was with him, but I had to travel to France to renew his prescription and bring back his medications, since his heart treatment was insufficient. My return flight, scheduled for March 17 at 2 p.m., was canceled, and since then, I have been stuck in France," says the wife.

"I informed the repatriation officer at the Moroccan consulate in Orly of the problem, who asked me to write to an email address. I never got a response. I went back to see her a month later to find a solution, in vain, and yet I justified my call for help," she adds. However, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and African Cooperation, Nasser Bourita, had specified in his various interventions in Parliament that Moroccans stranded abroad who are in a vulnerable situation are a priority.