Retired Moroccan Returns Home After 3-Month COVID-19 Delay in France

Mohamed Fahem worked in France for 40 years at a chocolate factory and has been retired for 10 years, reports Actu.fr. He lived in his city of Tiznit but his wish to collect his pension in Morocco brought him back to Chateauneuf-sur-Sarthe in February 2020. His papers were not in order. However, this return proved complicated for the septuagenarian.

Valérie Choucha, a colleague and friend, helps him to settle all the administrative matters. "Mohamed hardly speaks French. He needed help. And then he’s a friend, so for me it’s natural," says Valérie. She managed to finalize all the retirement papers. Likewise, the notice was given to the rental company. Mohamed was supposed to return to Morocco on March 15 but did not yet have a return ticket. Covid-19 appears, and the French government issues restrictive measures including confinement. Mohamed finds himself stuck in Chateauneuf-sur-Sarthe.

Valérie takes action again. She contacts the Clic and the social workers of Châteauneuf. Mohamed keeps his rental. While he manages to get a ticket for July 14, Valérie receives an email on July 11 informing her of the cancellation of the Transavia flight. With the help of her colleague and Michel Pommot, 2nd deputy mayor of Hauts-d’Anjou, the retiree gets a ticket for 280 € for July 22.

This time, Mohamed took his return flight to Morocco. He has finally returned home to Tiznit where he lives with his family and enjoys his retirement.