Several Moroccan students in Russia have told Hespress EN they are stranded and unsure of how to get home after their flights were suspended, amid rising Covid-19 cases in Russia.
Mohammed Ali is one of the many students navigating Morocco’s ban on direct flights from Russia, as he tries to find ways to make it back home before his visa expires in late October.
In his second year of medical studies in Russia, Ali fears missing in-person classes, now mandatory for his field of studies.
“I used to study remotely last year, but medical studies cannot be done theoretically. We need to do laboratory work,” he said.
Rising Covid-19 cases in Russia were behind Morocco’s decision to suspend direct flight. The country reported on Thursday, 27,550 new cases and 924 deaths from COVID-19.
For many, this means needing to plan complex circuitous routes that would allow them to take a COVID-19 test in another country before arriving to Morocco.
The Moroccan students pleaded with the government to organize special flights before the end of October to enable them to renew their papers and join their classes,they told Hepress EN.
Many of those affected by the decision are contesting the country’s decision, hoping to find a solution to their case as studies have just started.
Anass Mahir, a dental student in Russia also told Hespress English, “my visa will expire in November, and I cannot redo it since the process takes time and requires fees.”
Hanane Errachedy, a medical student in her second year, also told Hespress English, “ my flight was scheduled for October 07, and this suspension of direct flights’ decision took me by surprise.”
“Last year, studies were held remotely because of the closure of borders and COVID-19 pandemic all over the world, which was generic,” she said, adding, “ But for this year, studies need to be held physically, especially that in the third year, medical studies turn to be held in Russian.”
Salma Ahmed, a dental student also told Hespress English, “Last year, when studies were held remotely, I’ve failed in four subjects, and for each subject, I have to pay credits of MAD2000, so that the university would give me another chance to retake exams,” adding, “most of the students dealt with the same issue.”
The Russian Embassy in Rabat reported that Moroccan authorities suspended direct air traffic temporarily, but didn’t give further information about the duration of the suspended flights.
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