France Unveils Global Repatriation Plan for Citizens Stranded Abroad Amid Coronavirus

While since yesterday, Friday, March 20, two-thirds of the 20,000 French blocked in Morocco have already been able to return, the government is working to put in place this new measure to ensure the return of its citizens still stranded there.

According to the Quai d’Orsay, this measure will be based on an air transport plan, adapted for the whole world, according to local priorities and emergencies. It will also allow each person to book a return ticket with an airline. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the technical details of this mechanism will be specified, by the end of the week, to the nationals in difficulty, by Air France and its diplomatic and consular network.

Temporary travelers are concerned by this measure. As for the French established outside France, the Quai d’Orsay recommends that they do not return to France. Those living outside the European Union are invited, "in the next thirty days, to avoid, as much as possible, international travel, even to return to the national territory". These instructions also apply to those living in an EU country.

Despite the suspension of services around the world, the Minister of Foreign Affairs promises to offer reasonable commercial solutions to its nationals. To this end, he has invited those who are currently in this situation to remain in contact with the companies, like the French representation in Algeria.

Meanwhile, while waiting to find a solution to repatriate its nationals, the Secretary of State, Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, announced on Thursday the implementation of an emergency service "to connect stranded French abroad" with French people living outside France, who could host them through the portal www.sosuntoit.fr