Worldwide, the corona pandemic has hit hardest people struggling with poverty. Refugees in Morocco too. Fear grows among them that it is not the virus but its consequences that could become the greatest danger.
By Dunja Sadaqi, ARD Studio Northwest Africa
People stand at large distances from each other in front of a bakery in Rabat. They are only allowed to go in and buy their bread individually. Before that, they have to disinfect their hands. Everyone wears masks – this is a must in Morocco.
A young black man is standing around the corner. He shyly asks the customers coming out for something to eat. Many migrants are currently like him. The strict curfew and the state of emergency are bothering them, Ali says by voice message. He is in his early 30s and comes from Togo:
“We can’t go out. We don’t eat anymore, we are trapped in our rooms. They promised us we would get a piece of paper to go out with, but it was only distributed to Moroccans. The state doesn’t think of us. “
Life from hand to mouth
Ali shares a small apartment with several migrants in the Takadoum district in the capital Rabat. 20 people in a small room – this is not unusual here.
Many migrants from sub-Saharan Africa live in Takadoum. Many live from hand to mouth. Like Ali’s friend Abdoul from Burkina Faso: “Racism has increased. I thought we were all Africans, but why is my Moroccan brother treating me like this? Why this racism? I am hungry, I cannot go out, I have no one supports me. I feel helpless. “
Morocco has had a strict curfew since March. During the fasting month of Ramadan, it is also valid at night. Everything is closed: cafes, restaurants, shops, mosques. Police and military control in the streets.
No jobs, no alms
The measures also make it difficult for relief organizations to intervene, explains Hannes Stegemann, Director of Caritas in Morocco. He describes the situation as tense: “Many migrants used to live off odd jobs or begging. There are currently no odd jobs. Begging is almost impossible.”
Before the pandemic, migrants had split up at crossroads to ask for a donation at the red light, Stegemann continues. “Today there are hardly any cars and the few drivers do not open the window for fear of Corona, so the migrants have basically lost all income.”
According to Stegemann, there are currently around 50,000 migrants from African countries who do not have a residence permit in Morocco. Some are looking for a better life in the kingdom, others want to continue towards Europe. Because transport routes are currently almost dense, this is almost no longer possible.
Only a few employees are allowed to have contact with refugees
There are many people and organizations who want to continue helping the migrants, says Stegemann. But they also take the corona measures:
“For example, as Caritas we had to close all of our care centers for migrants – and this applies to all cities. All of my employees do home offices. We have special permits for around 30 employees who have medical or social training. So they can be individual Get in touch with individual migrants who can then help their community, their families. “
“We will not die from the virus, but from hunger”
The logistics behind it are difficult. Yasmina Filali also sees it that way. She is the director of the “Fondation Orient Occident”. The Moroccan organization takes care of migrants in addition to poor and low-income Moroccans.
“There was really a cry for help from the migrant community because the curfew hit them hard. They often told us: ‘We won’t die from the corona virus, but from hunger.'”
So her organization has set up an emergency telephone called “SOS Migrant”, Filali continues: “We receive calls every day. We currently take care of 500 to 600 people a day. We send food packages or distribute food stamps.”
Financial support only with a residence permit
Morocco has launched an aid package for the poor and low-income in the country who are particularly affected by the Corona crisis. For example, people who work in the so-called informal sector – for example as a cleaner or day laborer – can receive state funds. The same applies to migrants. However, they must have a regular residence status.
So far, this has not been the case for the approximately 50,000 migrants without this status. You feel left alone by the state.
