Coronavirus: Bodies Of 40 Algerians Are Stuck In European Capitals, Said Benrokia Says

There are more than 40 bodies that are stuck in European capitals with their families, as a result of the temporary suspension of flights due to the Coronavirus epidemic, calling on the Algerian authorities to expedite the allocation of a plane to save dozens of stranded citizens accompanied with the coffins of their loved ones, Chairman of the Union of Algerian Immigrants, Said Benrokia said.

“The suspension of flights and movement through the air and sea transit centres between Algeria and European countries left more than 40 corpses of Algerians to remain stuck with their relatives, including 34 corpses that are stuck in France, where their families were not able to return to the homeland with their coffins. Our services are in constant contact with the Foreign Ministry to expedite the deportation of the dead bodies”.

“The Foreign Ministry promised to transport them by land and air on flights for the entry of goods, but the problem which is posed lies with the families of the victims who want to attend the funerals of their beloved ones. After the increasing calls from the stranded by our community who are residing abroad, due to the temporary suspension of movement through the air and sea transit centres to and from Algeria as a precautionary measure against the spread of Coronavirus, an Algerian M. Azzedine and other Algerians call upon the Algerian authorities to allow them to accompany the dead bodies of their relatives and beloved ones”.

“Algerians who are trapped in many European capitals, accompanied by their families, have medical certificates proving that they have not had any contagious disease, and the same thing also applies to the dead bodies because the nature of death is natural, not because of the Coronavirus epidemic”.

“Algerian authorities are required to intervene urgently to allocate a plane to save dozens of stranded Algerians so that they can return to the homeland, and it is known that if they cannot enter Algeria, the bodies of the families of those stranded in France will be subject to cremation if they will not pay funeral costs and reserve a place in the cemetery”.

The decision to suspend flights between Algeria and some European countries as a result of the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic has caused a shock to some Algerians who are stranded in European airports, whether it concerns students or tourists, as many Algerian nationals who are stranded at Istanbul Airport in Turkey made a distress call to the Algerian authorities to accelerate their evacuation to the homeland and the allocation of a plane, similar to the Algerians who were evacuated from Spain and Morocco.