Morocco Opens Air Borders to Repatriate Citizens Stranded Abroad

During the press conference held after the Council of Ministers, the government spokesman, Mustapha Baitas, addressed the issue of the repatriation of Moroccans who have recently traveled to several countries around the world and are stranded.

"We have discovered that a large number of Moroccan citizens are stranded in several countries and wish to return. We have therefore decided to open the air borders for them," said the minister, recalling that the government had announced that the passage would be made via three countries, namely the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Portugal.

These choices were made to allow the people concerned and stranded in the Gulf to pass through the airports of the United Arab Emirates and to give the opportunity to those stranded in Western Europe and North America to enter through the airports of Portugal. Turkey has also been chosen because of its geographical location between Asia and Eastern Europe, Baitas explained.

Furthermore, a system has been put in place for the benefit of the repatriated persons, he stressed, adding that the latter will be taken care of for 7 days by the government in dedicated hotels. "Daily monitoring will be ensured and PCR tests will be carried out during the quarantine period to prevent any infection of the repatriates or their families," he noted.

And he concluded that "the Moroccan authorities will continue to place the preservation of the physical integrity and health of Moroccans before any other consideration."