Repatriation of 3,887 remains of Moroccans when the borders open

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Living Abroad, Nasser Bourita, confirmed the resumption of the process of repatriating the bodies of Moroccans who died abroad which had been stopped in March 2020, following measures conservatories of the Moroccan government and the competent authorities taken in the context of the Covid pandemic.

This announcement follows the written question posed by the member of the House of Representatives, Nadia El Kansouri of the Justice and Development Party, member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, National Defence, Islamic Affairs and MRE and related ” the repatriation of the bodies of citizens of the Moroccan community who died abroad“. The Minister indicated that the process of repatriating the bodies of Moroccans abroad had resumed with the decision to launch the exceptional operation of opening borders and access to national territory to Moroccan citizens and their families who find abroad.

In this regard, Bourita revealed that the bodies of 3,887 Moroccan citizens who died abroad (excluding Covid infections) have been repatriated, whether the bodies were previously deposited in cold rooms or temporarily placed in the cemetery warehouse. . The minister further noted that during the period of the suspension of flights to and from Morocco, the ministry covered the burial costs of more than 322 of the bodies of community members who died abroad who were in a vulnerable situation and were not insured for this purpose.

The Minister underlined that his supervision was monitoring the situation of Moroccans residing abroad in their diversity, in application of the directives of King Mohammed VI, who pays particular attention to this category of Moroccan citizens, and this, “thanks to a combination processes and programs to implement this monitoring strategy. Nasser Bourita explained that the “Program for the repatriation of the bodies of Moroccans of the world” is a mechanism which aims to strengthen the social support of vulnerable groups of members of the Moroccan community residing abroad.

In order to ensure the optimal functioning of this program, the government official indicated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Residing Abroad, in full coordination with Moroccan diplomatic missions and consular centers abroad, are required to respond immediately to all requests that meet the stipulated conditions, according to a reference framework that governs this approach, within a period not exceeding 24 hours from the date of receipt of the request.

Nasser Bourita indicated that as soon as the vulnerability of the deceased or members of his family is recorded, the competent authority at the central level and at the consular centers begins to initiate the procedures for the sponsorship process, the remains of the Moroccan deceased in a precarious situation and/ or, not having insurance, the Moroccan State takes charge of the poorest and their repatriation.

Nasser Bourita concluded by assuring that his ministry “has implemented this program with great flexibility and in a fluid manner in coordination with the diplomatic missions and consular centers of the Kingdom of Morocco in the countries of residence, except in certain exceptional cases related to mysterious circumstances of death, which call for a investigation by security authorities prior to issuance of death certificate”.

Thousands of Moroccans residing abroad have lost their lives since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020. Whether it is the country, this loss represents a double ordeal for their families, on the one hand, the disappearance of a loved one is never easy, on the other hand, health restrictions had complicated the ritual of getting together with the family for the funeral ceremony.