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Around 18,000 Moroccans are stranded abroad, according to the Minister in charge of Moroccans Living Abroad. This number was communicated as thousands of these nationals have been pleading for their repatriation.
Most of them have found themselves in difficult situations after Morocco decided to implement a travel ban, prohibiting international flights and grounding all of its planes.
In the United Kingdom, and almost one month after Morocco implemented its coronavirus lockdown, several Moroccans have seen their situations go from bad to worse. Not very far from London, Mina Benchouai is one of the Moroccans that urgently need to be brought back home.
Vulnerable citizens
Her daughter, who has been housing her for more than a month, told Yabiladi that she needs to get her mother out of the UK as soon as possible. «My mother had cancer three times in the past and suffers heart problems», the daughter worryingly said. «She is now running out of the medicine that she is dependent on», she regretted.
But that is not the only thing that concerns the mother-of-two. While her son suffers from asthma, she is also taking care of her husband who «contracted the coronavirus a week ago». «My husband is quarantined at home because the hospital refuses to take him in, as they say his condition is not that serious», she explained.
The daughter has to take care of her sick mother and her children and make sure none of them contract the virus. «I try to separate them as much as I can (…) My mother, kids and I sleep in the living room because we can’t go upstairs where my sick husband is isolating», the Moroccan lady said, desperately.
«All I want is get my mother out of here. I am torn apart and scared for her life because she is the most vulnerable of us all», she concluded.
Mina is not the only Moroccan senior citizen to fear for her life while stranded in the UK. Souad Sainy, another mother-of-two, was visiting her daughter in London when the lockdown and the series of public health measures were taken. When her flight was canceled, she had to be extremely cautious.
«I have to go back to Morocco», she told Yabiladi, referring to her serious health issues. «I am suffering from cirrhosis of the liver and staying here is just putting my life in jeopardy», she argued.
Souad, who avoids going out and locks herself at home, is unable to keep doing so for much longer. Back in Morocco, her aging mother and daughter heavily depend on her. «I left my mother in Morocco and she depends a lot on me, she is very old and needs assistance», she regretted.
Stranded and shelterless
While Souad and Mina are worried about their health, Mohamed*, a young Moroccan tourist, is roaming the streets of London with nowhere to go. After having spent all of his money, the young man who came to the UK as a tourist back in December is now sleeping on the streets after he found himself stranded and alone.
«As I was running out of money, I stayed in several places. The last place where I stayed was at a Moroccan's who lives here and who asked me to leave after his wife came», Mohamed recalled. «It has been six days now that I sleep in a park here in London with nowhere to go», he said with a sad voice.
After trying to get help, Mohamed was merely told to «wait». «As I wait for repatriation, I keep telling my parents that I am doing fine, I did not let them know that I am homeless now», he regretted.
While Mohamed has been able to survive on his own with no roof over his head, Rania knew that she would not be able to. The student, minor of age, found herself stuck when her school and campus closed their doors because of the coronavirus.
The Casablanca-native who studies in Dover, southeastern England, was forced to sofa-surf after she was required to leave the campus accommodation where she lived. «It has been one month that I don’t have a fixed residence», said Rania, who went from one friend’s house to the other during all that period.
«I stayed a couple of days at a classmate’s house and then a couple of weeks at another friend’s house», she recalled. Fortunately, the young student was finally able to go to her sister’s place after she returned from a trip. «Although I am staying at my sister's, I want to go home to my parents», Rania said.
Oumaima was also in the same situation when her campus closed. «I felt lucky because I have family in the UK and I could go and stay with them», she told Yabiladi.
«I took transportation, as I had no other choice, and I went to their house (…) It’s been one month that I am living with them but since then, I have been feeling like I am a burden to them», she said.
«They are a five-member family and I am the sixth person they are forced to shelter and feed during these already difficult and tight times», she regretted.
Forced to wait
Awaiting repatriatin, Oumaima, Rania and most of those stranded in the UK have desperately tried to contact the Moroccan embassy and consulate to enquire about their situation. However, after several calls, attempts and emails they have all been told to «wait and be patient».
Adam*, a London-born Moroccan, was kind enough to intervene and try to help the «almost 200 Moroccans stranded in London only». Speaking to Yabiladi on Thursday, the Moroccan man said that after several attempts he finally managed to reach an official from the Moroccan embassy in London to try and help those who are in the most difficult situations.
«They have promised to get medication to be transported from Morocco to the UK for the people who need it», Adam said. «Unfortunately, there are no repatriation plans for the moment but I have given the embassy a list with the names of some Moroccans who could no longer afford accommodation in London, to help house them», he reported.
Adam is trying his best to direct, translate and help the most vulnerable Moroccans stranded in London. Meanwhile, several of them are being left to their own device, hoping to go home and be reunited with their loved ones during these difficult times.
*Names were changed
