Coronavirus: the cry of the heart of the parents of Senegalese students confined to Wuhan

The parents of 13 Senegalese students confined to Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the coronavirus epidemic, during a press conference in Dakar, February 5, 2020. RFI / Charlotte Idrac

Text by: RFI Follow

Relatives of the 13 Senegalese students confined to the Chinese city of Wuhan, epicenter of the coronavirus epidemic, held a press conference in Dakar on Wednesday (February 5th) to request their immediate return.

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With our correspondent in Dakar , Charlotte Idrac

The parents of 13 Senegalese students confined to Wuhan, China uttered a "cry from the heart". President Macky Sall declared - this Monday, February 3 - that the issue of repatriation was " not simple ", that Senegal "did not have the means " to bring them back and take care of them safely, by evoking " logistics out of reach ". A statement which arouses the incomprehension of the families of the students. Gathered collectively, they held a press conference on Wednesday in Dakar, to request their immediate return.

El Hadj Malick Coulibaly does not leave his phone, and keeps an eye on the WhatsApp application. Her son Younouss has been studying in Wuhan for 2 years in computer engineering: “ We communicate every day. Every morning I call her. He said to me: "the thing is getting more and more difficult" ".

The group says " bruised and bitter " after the president's statement. Abdoulaye Sall, father of a civil engineering student in Wuhan “ We cannot understand that a head of state is addressing the nation to say that the Republic does not have the means to repatriate 13 students. It shocked us terribly. We met with the Secretary of State for Senegalese Abroad who made us empty promises "we are going to set up a cell ..." This is not what we are asking ".

The families of the students recall the good management by Senegal of the Ebola epidemic. Mandiaye Kane had advised her little brother to go to study in Wuhan “ Mr. President of the Republic Macky Sall, you are solemnly asked, if it was your son what were you going to do? I have my son who is at the bottom of the hole, I turn my back on him. I can't ... "goodbye bye-bye" ... It's unacceptable. .. ".

Very moved, Mandiaye Kane cannot finish her sentence. For his part, the Minister of Health calls not to " overuse " the words of the Head of State, and replies that " Senegal does not currently have a security and health system to bring back Senegalese students ".

Senegal does not currently have a security and health system to bring back the Senegalese students #Wuhan. However, the State will continue to assist them #kebetu #senegal pic.twitter.com/kjRYuYFXUw

Ministry of Health and Social Action SEN (@ MinisteredelaS1) February 5, 2020

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  • Senegal
  • coronavirus
  • China

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Controversy in Senegal over the non-repatriation of students confined to Wuhan