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As the death toll from the deadly new coronavirus, which began in the Chinese city of Wuhan, has reached 80, several countries have promised to repatriate their nationals blocked in China.
France, the United States and other countries have promised to repatriate their citizens living in the Wuhan area, LBC reports. The evacuated nationals will have to spend 14 days in quarantine to avoid spreading the virus.
In Wuhan, however, Moroccan students are still in a state of panic, days after their city was put in a quarantine. Moroccans living in the city have urged the authorities in several videos posted to the internet, to be repatriated.
Awaiting repatriation
On Monday, Aya, a Moroccan student from the Hubei University of Technology told Yabiladi that she would like «to return to Morocco». «We want Morocco to help us go home, go back to our country, they shouldn’t be scared of us, we have nothing», she argued.
Aya, who is currently staying at the university’s dormitory alongside other Moroccan students, said that the Moroccan «embassy in Beijing has promised to help us get food», as the city’s inhabitants have been living off limited resources since the start of the lockdown.
However, Aya stressed that they are currently «assisted by the university’s staff». «They are protecting us and they provide us with food as we cannot go out», she added. «We are still awaiting the embassy’s decision as we have not heard of any repatriation news yet», she concluded.
Omar, another Moroccan student in Wuhan, voiced the same worries. On Monday, he told Yabiladi that just like other Moroccans he «is worried and afraid of getting infected».
«We only go out to get food and supplies, which are getting less and less available», he explained. «We feel like we are imprisoned, classes are suspended and we are stuck home», Omar argued.
Omar, who also wants to go back to Morocco, stressed that «the Moroccan consulate has first informed [him and other students] that we will leave Wuhan, but apparently this is no longer an option».
Limited resources
Oumayma, on the other hand, is one of the Moroccan students who «is on her own». The student told Yabiladi that she «is locked up in her place, as she lives off campus». «Those who live together on campuses have the chance to stay together but people like me are left to fend for themselves», she explained.
Oumayma indicated that she «has not been contacted by the Moroccan consulate or embassy». «They told us earlier this month to send emails if we want to leave for Morocco but there was no follow-up», she added.
Oumayma is one of the Moroccan students who had her semester at school suspended. «Universities announced the cancellation of this semester and scheduled the next semester for August, so there is no reason for us to stay here», she argued.
Meanwhile, Brahim, another Moroccan student in Wuhan, told Yabiladi that the situation is «still worrying».
«The virus is spreading, the death toll is increasing, and it is expected to raise even more», he said. Fortunately, Brahim is one of the Moroccan students who lives near a supermarket, which is not the case for several other students, according to him.
«I went out this morning to get food from the nearest supermarket but other students live far from markets and it is difficult for them to get there as the number of operating taxis in the city is very limited», Brahim said.
In addition to that, Brahim referred to food prices : «The prices went up amid the outbreak and supplies are very limited».
While most of Moroccans living in Wuhan, especially students, want to leave for Morocco, the Chinese authorities released a reassuring communiqué, Sunday, promising to assist them. «Every effort will be made to ensure the safety, health and well-being of Moroccan nationals residing in China, especially in the city of Wuhan and Hubei province», said the Moroccan embassy in Beijing, quoting the Chinese authorities.
While, the communiqué did not mention repatriation, it stressed that «the embassy had announced that it was in permanent contact with the Chinese authorities and with the Moroccan community living in China to monitor their situation following the outbreak of the new coronavirus in the city of Wuhan and in other Chinese cities».
For the record, the Moroccan embassy announced, Friday, that it had set up a crisis cell to assist Moroccan nationals living in infected areas.
For the record, China’s National Health Commission announced, this week, that the number of known infected people in the country has reached 2,744.
