Stranded Belgian-Moroccans in Morocco Plead for Urgent Repatriation Amid Health Concerns

"I am 68 years old. I have been diabetic for eighteen years. My prostate problems are very worrying. I should see a cardiologist. We can’t find in Morocco the medicines available in Belgium. I have this important appointment on April 24th. I need urgent care. Please help us," laments Hamid Zeguendi, stuck in Tangier. Like him, they are thousands of Belgians, Belgian-Moroccans and Moroccans residing in Belgium with valid Belgian documents, living a "real human suffering", according to the platform "Belgian-Moroccans blocked in Morocco/coronavirus".

"I follow the Moroccan news, but the media simply do not talk about us. Our situation is not taken into account. We feel completely abandoned," laments this retiree who had gone to Tangier in mid-March to visit a studio he intends to buy. There, he tells La Dernière Heure that he has met many Belgian-Moroccans who are stuck: "young people, and also many elderly people, retirees who have health problems, and for whom stress is not a good thing".

The Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Philippe Goffin, spoke about the situation of these "many Belgian-Moroccans" on Wednesday. "We want our dual nationals to be able to return to the country. We are doing everything to make it work that way. Except that, for the moment, we are clearly facing a refusal from the Moroccan state. It’s as clear as that," he explained.

According to the Belgian minister, Morocco and Burundi are the two countries refusing the repatriation of dual nationals. However, he assured that he is in "permanent" contact with his counterpart, Nasser Bourita and the Moroccan ambassador to Belgium, Mohammed Ameur.