France: twenty-five Algerians stranded for nearly a month at Roissy airport
The Covid-19 health instructions in a waiting area on the arrival level of terminal 2E at Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle airport near Paris on March 18, 2021. AFP - ERIC PIERMONT
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They have been living in terminal 2E at Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle airport for almost a month.
Five Algerian nationals including 2 children aged 3 and 6, who arrived from Great Britain on February 26 for what was to be a simple stopover of a few hours, are stranded due to the Covid and the closure of the borders.
An ubiquitous situation.
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The international area of Roissy, Abdel Megar-tsi says he knows every nook and cranny.
This 35-year-old Algerian has been stranded there for nearly a month with 24 other people.
On February 26, despite their negative PCR test, their vaccination certificate for some and their travel authorization issued by the Algerian consulate in London, Air Algérie refused to allow them to board.
At issue: the English variant.
Since then, these Algerians have been living in the transit zone.
"
During the day, it is very hot and at night it is very very cold,"
says Abdel Megar-tsi.
We sleep on the floor.
Our first shower, we took it after 11 or 12 days.
Food is sandwiches.
We spend the day as we can.
We wait.
No, it's not human.
"
Algeria says it warned travelers in time and asks them to return to Britain.
Out of the question, answer the 25. Some like Abdel Megar-tsi, are expected by members of their family who are sick.
Others no longer have visas or accommodation on site.
Their lawyer, Me Hadj Saïd, denounces the attitude of the Algerian authorities.
“
It's a question that has taken a bit of a political turn.
It becomes stubbornness, it becomes something other than a humanitarian situation,
”she said.
So to shake things up, the 25 Algerians decided to take legal action in France.
The standoff could therefore also become diplomatic.
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