The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Philippe Goffin, communicated this afternoon on the daily development of the situation of Belgians abroad who are immobilized following the containment measures taken almost everywhere in the world.
The containment and travel restriction measures taken in a multitude of countries to fight the CoVid-19 coronavirus pandemic have immobilized many Belgians present in these countries who want to return to Belgium. Repatriation operations have therefore been carried out and continue to be carried out.
Another 17,000 Belgians in difficulty in a foreign country
“In less than a week, the number of Belgians registered on Travelers-online platform (Editor’s note: a Foreign Affairs website which allows Belgium to get to know Belgians in difficult situation in a foreign country) decreased by 10,000 units. Today there are 17,000 registered. Our priority is to try to find a solution for each of them “, informed the Minister. Several countries – like Turkey – continue to be served by commercial flights, which allows Belgian travelers to gradually take the way back.
Already 20 repatriation flights carried out
To date, Belgium has organized 20 repatriation flights:
– 7 flights were made to Morocco (4 to Marrakech and 3 to Agadir, the main tourist areas of the country)
– 2 flights to Enfidah (Hammamet) in Tunisia
– 6 flights to Tenerife
– 2 on Las Palmas in the Canary Islands
– 2 flights to Senegal and 1 to Gambia
– 1 flight to Egypt.
In the coming days, flights are planned to the Democratic Republic of Conco (DRC).
Repatriations from Latin and South America and Asia are also planned, the minister said.
Coronavirus in Morocco: complicated for people who have Moroccan nationality or who are Belgian-Moroccan
1,081 people have already been able to reach Belgium thanks to several repatriation flights.
“But for several days unfortunately, the situation has been complicated. Morocco has indeed closed its airspace and our fellow citizens who also have Moroccan nationality are no longer allowed to leave Morocco”, informed the Minister
To date 500 people, currently in Morocco, have expressed the wish to return to Belgium. Of these 90 are of Belgian nationality without dual nationality.
“Several Belgo-Moroccans deplore the fact that they cannot return to Belgium. This impossibility is a decision of the Moroccan government”, said the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
A permanently open phone number
The Minister finally recalls that the FPS Foreign Affairs crisis center remains open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at +32 (0) 2 501 4000, or via messaging on our Facebook page Diplomatie.Belgium from 7 a.m. to midnight.
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