Jean-Yves Le Drian, Christophe Castaner and Jean-Baptiste Djebbari announced Wednesday evening the installation of an air system, in connection with Air France, for the French placed on "red list" abroad because of the coronavirus . Their colleague Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, for his part, had addressed earlier, in Le Parisien, the management of this problem by the government and the pursuit of an air bridge between France and Morocco, which suspended its links with the 'Hexagon.
"A global and global mechanism to allow our nationals who wish to return home to France by air will be set up very quickly, in connection with Air France", assured the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, of the Interior and the Secretary of State for Transport in a press release.
"It will be based on an air transport plan adapted for the whole world, according to local priorities and emergencies, and will allow everyone to book a return ticket with a company," added the ministers. “The technical details of this mechanism will be specified by the end of the week to our nationals in difficulty, by Air France and our diplomatic and consular network. "
Take his troubles patiently "
Many countries have suspended air links with Europe, the new epicenter of the Covid-19 pandemic, leaving tens of thousands of French citizens on the sidelines. "We will thus be able to offer, with the airlines involved, reasonable commercial solutions to return home to our compatriots," said the three ministers.
The French Minister of Foreign Affairs called by then the thousands of French travelers stranded around the world to take their trouble in "patience". "It is true that it is difficult, it is difficult for everyone [...] We must therefore calmly, serenely, with composure, wait for my turn if I dare say," he said. on the BFMTV channel.
French people living abroad must stay put
Some 6000 to 7000 French people are notably still stranded in Morocco and 4000 in Tunisia, whether they are tourists or on personal and professional travel. Since Friday evening, 90 flights, including many special flights, have enabled the evacuation of two thirds of the 20,000 French detained in Morocco, said Jean-Yves Le Drian. Thirty flights will also be organized to allow the French to return from Tunisia, he added.
Testimonies also pour in of French people stranded in the Philippines. The Philippine Ministry of Tourism offers foreigners to contact him on Messenger via his Facebook page, giving their names, exact positions and desired destinations, to organize transport to international airports.
❗❗ French people stranded in the Philippines # COVID19PH
The Philippine Ministry of Tourism offers to register centrally for the organization of transport to international airports.
👉 https://t.co/OXgfGG34MO pic.twitter.com/zIqQfWOXNA
The government has also invited French residents living abroad to avoid international travel as much as possible, including to return to national territory, unless there are compelling reasons. “We think that for their own safety and to fight against this virus, we must stay at home. And if your home is abroad, you stay at home abroad, ”said Jean-Yves Le Drian.
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For those residing in the European space who would nevertheless like to return, "direct returns by air should, as far as possible, be privileged" rather than crossing several land borders, noted the three ministers.