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Morocco’s pandemic lockdown has turned into a tragedy for those separated from their loved ones. With no resources, nor transportation means due to the confinement, some Moroccans have decided to walk all the way home to be reunited with their parents, children or relatives in need of their assistance.
Some of them have walked hundreds of kilometers, under the burning sun, without food and sometimes while observing the Ramadan fast. Reda Taoujni, an Agadir-based man, has met tens of them during the last six weeks.
Driving from Amskroud, a town located about 40 kilometres northeast of Agadir, and Imintanout, a town in the Chichaoua province, to help thirsty shepherds and assist drivers in trouble, Taoujni stumbled upon several men and sometimes women who hit the road on their own to head home to their children, spouses and sick parents.
«I have been driving between Amskroud and Imintanout for years, to help people by the road because I know that it can get very hot and tricky for drivers and shepherds», Taoujni told Yabiladi. «However, since the start of the lockdown, I have stumbled upon tens of people traveling by foot», he regretted.
Stranded and far away from home
When the lockdown was implemented in the Kingdom to avoid the spread of the coronavirus, hundreds of people have found themselves separated from their families. While some of them could afford staying away, others are too vulnerable to do it.
«These are vulnerable people with no money and no resources to survive on their own, they mostly have families to care for, and that’s what pushes them to go for this harsh and almost impossible solution», Taoujni said.
While driving between the two towns, the man distributes water and food, and helps with the money he has those desperately walking home. He doesn’t stop there. He also offers to help them reach their destinations no matter how far they are.
On May 2, he posted a video of a man who left Tata walking to his sick parents and kids in Imintanout, more than 300 km away. The exhausted man appeared in a video shot by Taoujni to show that the lockdown is a hell on earth for some people.
«The man lost his job and was stranded in Tata after the lockdown», he recalled. «He was exhausted when I met him and his feet were bruised from the walking», he added.
Desperate parents
While driving, Taoujni met many other people and heard their tragic and empowering stories. One of them is that of a strong yet desperate mother who walked alone for four days to be with her children. «On Saturday, I found this woman who walked from Sidi Ifni to be with her kids who are in El Jadida», Taoujni sadly told Yabiladi.
«She had no choice but to walk as she left her sick husband and children alone», he recalled, adding that «fortunately, a woman accepted to give her a ride and had even put her up in her home in Marrakech».
The same thing happened with a Zagoura father who walked for ten days to be with his daughter who was kicked out of campus when the lockdown happened. «He called and said that he finally arrived to Agadir to be with his daughter. It is wonderful and sad at the same time when you think of what this man did for his daughter», he said.
Unfortunately, more people are walking home during the lockdown. On their way, they face multiple dangers. «It is extremely hot during this period in the region and sleeping in the forest is no easy task as wild animals and venomous insects can attack at any time», Taoujni warned.
«In addition to this, I have been told by many of these people that they were attacked and mugged on their way home», he told Yabiladi while driving by the Amskroud road to provide help.
While Taoujni is doing what he can to assist and help these people, others taking different roads are left to their own device trying to get home during these particular times.
