Thousands of Moroccans Stranded in France as Travel Links Abruptly Cut

"I am staying with a friend since the blockage situation occurred suddenly. We didn’t have any notice; we didn’t have two, three days to prepare. The decision fell like a guillotine and we all rushed to flights," says Kacem El Bounani, a 45-year-old entrepreneur, stranded in the Paris region, to Hespress.

Kacem will say that some are in precarious accommodation with family, friends. Those who really had financial problems were fully supported by the various consular representations.

"We are living this situation very badly, humanly and psychologically. [...] We are brutally trapped, confined in France against our will," he laments. According to him, some Moroccans had gone to France for "heavy medical treatment and had to quickly return to Morocco for post-operative care". Others suffer from "chronic illnesses and are cared for by their children".

"I am alone. [...] I just came here to take a plane to Morocco, without too many stopovers, and fate wanted me to be stuck. [...] It’s a very hard situation," says Amina, a grandmother. She confides that the Embassy has spared no effort to take care of them, that they are very well housed and fed. However, very anxious, Amina says she can no longer sleep without medication. "I was so anxious that they brought in a psychologist. [...] If at least I had the date (of repatriation, ed.) I would be more at peace..."