Moroccan Nationals Return Home After Two-Month Border Closure with Algeria

To the great relief of the families, the Moroccans stranded in Algeria have returned home after a forced stay of more than two months, due to the closure of borders and the suspension of air links. An air bridge was set up on Saturday, May 30, departing from Casablanca Mohammed V airport to Algiers-Houari Boumédiène airport.

Contacted by challenge.ma, some passengers reported the conditions in which they carried out this repatriation flight. According to their testimony, they were 300 present in the Algiers airport premises to carry out the departure formalities followed by the health protocol put in place by Royal Air Maroc: barrier gestures, wearing masks and respecting social distancing, were prioritized by the flight crew. "Despite this necessary confinement to deal with the virus, it is with joy that we found ourselves on board to return to the country," confides a passenger who is still sad for those who are still there and who have "no visibility as to the precise date of their return to Morocco".

Another passenger, happy to finally be reunited with his loved ones after such a long time, said that "each Moroccan who is still stuck abroad must be the concern of public opinion". He stated that "the repatriation should have been done a long time ago, because Morocco really has the possibility to do so".

The return flights of these Moroccan citizens were carried out towards Oujda-Angad airport, between 12 pm and 1 pm on Saturday, May 30. According to a source close to the repatriation, "the operation had to be carried out according to the precise health procedures laid down by the supervisory authority", for the preservation of the health of all. Once on the tarmac of the airport, a sanitary cordon was set up as a preventive measure by the Moroccan authorities. "The trip went very well," says a relieved passenger, who reassures about the benevolent treatment they received from both the cabin crew and the ground staff.

After having them undergo tests, such as "temperature detection via thermal cameras, disinfection of their bags and accessories, in addition to barrier gestures and social distancing", the passengers were transferred by bus to "a hotel platform in Saïdia, specially dedicated to their reception and within which they will be subject to a quarantine period".

Other repatriation flights are planned throughout the week, to bring back to the country the Moroccans stranded both in Algeria and in Europe, the same source specifies.