China: Migrants deprived of their families for the Lunar New Year
Audio 02:29
The Lunar New Year is often the only chance to find your family in a continental country again facing travel restrictions, decided by the health authorities.
© AFP/Noel Celis
By: Stéphane Lagarde Follow
3 mins
The start of the largest migration on the planet begins this weekend in China.
These are the first departures of the "Spring Festival" holiday.
Families traditionally celebrate entering the Lunar New Year.
Except that the reunion is compromised, again this year, due to health restrictions.
The first to suffer are migrant workers.
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From our correspondent in Beijing,
Eyes shining above the mask full of dust, Mr. Zhang is not the type to complain, but this year, it's true, he would have liked to go home
for the holidays in Chunjié
.
Two years that this migrant worker employed in the renovation of housing in Beijing has not been able to celebrate the change of the Moon in his family in Sichuan, in the west of the country.
“
There is no virus in my hometown.
But hey, it's complicated to go back at the moment.
We have to quarantine ourselves and there are checks every day.
It's because of the cases in Beijing.
And then, anyway when you come back here to work, there is also a long quarantine, so, frankly, better not to move
,” warns Mr. Zhang.
China again faces travel restrictions
“
Stay still
”… For many of China’s 370 million migrant workers, this long-awaited Lunar New Year break is often the only chance to reunite with family in a continent country once again facing travel restrictions, decided by the authorities. health authorities.
Cleaning agent, Ms. San has also given up on her holidays.
“
My youngest daughter is stranded in Tianjin, so even if I came home, we wouldn't all be together.
And then, anyway, my brother told me he didn't want us.
He thinks those coming from Beijing should be quarantined
,” she said.
► To read also: China: massive screening in Tianjin after the discovery of two Omicron cases
“Stay where you are for the Spring Festival”
Xi'an, Tianjin, megalopolises are again under glass this winter with the arrival of Omicron.
If the Central Commission for Reform and Development last week asked for moderation in the use of the “zero Covid” strategy, in fact local executives are locking down for fear of being sanctioned in the event of contamination.
► To read also: The Omicron variant, a challenge for the Chinese “zero Covid” strategy
Big shovel to clear the driveways of a residence in northern Beijing, one of the sweepers wanted to return near Guilin in the South, where we called the local health committee.
"
Beijing people don't need to quarantine at the moment, but wait, I'm checking… In fact, you will have to stay at home for 14 days when you arrive.
The motto is: “
stay where you are for the Spring Festival!
'
” she says.
make up your mind
"
Stay where you are
"... Mr. Zhang, who has already spent 4 years away from his family in South Korea before the Covid, tells us that he has made up his mind, showing us a sausage on the screen of his smartphone.
Where will he spend the Lunar New Year?
“
I'm going to spend it here with colleagues, but I have good news
,” he says smiling.
He shows us his mobile phone screen.
“
I'm going to receive food, jerky this afternoon.
It's hard not to see my grandson, my son and my daughter-in-law again this year.
But I have these smoked sausages and charcuterie that my wife prepared
,” he consoles himself.
Good things to forget the distance.
This year, 1.18 billion trips are expected to be made during the Chunjié holiday in China.
This is 36% more than last year, but barely half of the trips recorded before the pandemic.
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China
Immigration