Despite the partial reopening of borders, millions of Algerians living abroad are unable to return to their homeland.
After more than a year of closure due to the pandemic, Algeria resumed the partial restoration of air and land borders on Tuesday.
“I purchased tickets for my small family, my wife and I, as well as my children, for the year 2020, as it had been planned for the previous summer. They assured us that the tickets would be valid for the next year after the borders were reopened. As you can see, some flights have reportedly resumed, but we are not on them “, according to caretaker Nassim Abdelhak.
Last week, the government announced that flights from France, Spain, Tunisia, and Turkey would be permitted.
However, they will be subjected to a 5-day quarantine at government-run hotels, for which they will be responsible for the pay.
Tassdit Belkhalsa was accompanied by her 81-year-old grandmother. She is furious at the situation.
“I want to understand why this Algerian president is doing this to us! We are children of Algeria, we live in France, we have our links, our cultures and everything and they do this to us. It’s shameful,” according to Belkhalsa
These policies have sparked widespread dissatisfaction among Algeria’s large diaspora, particularly in France.
An Air Algeria flight from Paris-Orly airport arrived in Algiers late Tuesday afternoon, carrying around 300 passengers.
The same plane had flown roughly 60 passengers to Paris earlier in the day.
Passengers were seen disembarking onto the airstrip in Algiers and were led directly to coaches to be brought to their hotel for isolation, according to local media.
According to Algeria’s health ministry, about 3,500 people have died as a result of Covid-19 since the first incidence was reported in February 2020.
In the 44 million-strong country, approximately 130,000 cases have been reported.
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