COVID-19 - Morocco Master Thread

[Tim Cullis]

Most of the motorhomes have now moved to the park near Tanger Med. This is actually at Ksar es Seghir, about 5km west of the port, there's two blocks of portacabins, fresh water taps and a cassette dumping spot. Electricity is being installed. There's a temporary shop/market stall area. The French Embassy says a medical team will be on site and that negotiations are taking place for repatriation by ferry to Sète in southern France.

A report from someone who's there, "We are in a motorhome stuck in the site ~5km from Tanger Med. Whilst the site is being prepared and does have a basic shop with groceries this is a really awful place to be. There are motorways on all sides of the car park. You are absolutely not allowed to leave, I cannot stress more that this far we are prisoners on this site. Despite pushing all day for papers to go to the bank we are constantly fobbed off. We are constantly asked for our passports and details with no plausible explanation as to why. The army is patrolling the site. They are there to stop you getting out NOT to stop people getting in. Do not come here unless you are absolutely desperate for food and water. There are 3 taps for 2000+ people. If the virus comes here hundreds of elderly motorhomers are likely to die."

[Tim Cullis]

In the meantime, in Zagora... "We are allowed to walk through the palmerie but not on the main roads and in the middle there is a riad where we and 3 others have dined fabulously including aperitifs and red wine for Dhs 600 per couple. Our German neighbour, our new friend, has invented a new term; para jail, paradise in jail! Unfortunately the alcohol shop is shut and we are close to dry. Going to be a great way to lose weight. Regards from the safest place on earth."

So the decision seems clear for the moment!

[TheWarden]

Interesting to see the contrasts in application of the rules. Strictly speaking you need a official permit to go to the shop, for medical reason and for work.

We can come and go from the campsite as we want, so a lot of the residents are surfing, or taking walks along the coast, no problems going into the village for supplies. 2 of the guys went up to the nearest town today and got waved through the 2 checkpoints. We haven't tried a run into Agadir for alcohol yet, but one of the campsite staff regularly attends the hospital there for treatment so we should be ok. The last new arrivals drove here from Erfoud 700km away. They were stopped north of Agadir without a permit but told the police they were going to a campsite and were allowed to proceed.

Tanger Med park sounds worse and worse as time goes on, a lot of them left it too late to get into Ceuta before the Spanish closed their border.

Seems I picked a good place to ride out the lock down

[levelo]

Interesting.
Sounds like the new rules are not implemented evenly within Morocco.
Wondering who's got the upper hand on this. The Police ? The Gendarmerie Royale ? Your local Moqadem ( = mayor ) ?
My acquaintance is stuck in Er Rich. They won't even allow him the drive to Er Rachidia to resupply.
In Imsouane ( that's where you are, right ? ) there used to be a guest house/bar ( fully stocked, lots of locals used to go there to get drunk ) on the way out of town to Essaouira ( but before the climb to the main road ).

[levelo]

Thanks Ray. I'll let him know. Thing is he is totally stuck for now. I advised him to go talk to the Moqadem and make up a solid story to be able to move on. He is French but he also totally dislikes being in French CCs ghettos :-). Your place sounds nice, though.

[TheWarden]

The mayor issued our permits here. Not sure about the guest house most places in town are closed. I think the majority of tourists here are camping

Has you friend tried the road out to Amellagou then down to Guelmim a, should be less police on that route. If he could get over to the Todra, Dades Gorge then there's pistes across to Ouarazazate.

[TheWarden]

The mayor issued our permits here. Not sure about the guest house most places in town are closed. I think the majority of tourists here are camping

Has you friend tried the road out to Amellagou then down to Guelmim a, should be less police on that route. If he could get over to the Todra, Dades Gorge then there's pistes across to Ouarazazate.

[levelo]

Thanks for the tips.
From what I understand the guys in uniforms keep a close watch on him. I assume it'd be hard for him to take off unnoticed.
And even if he'd manage the likelihood of being stopped further along the way seems high.
I think the only way out for him is a travel permit. He's an elderly guy and he could use health issues as a way of getting it.

[TheWarden]

French and germans have arranged for a ferry for those at Tanger Med on Sunday to Sete, absolute bargain at 1200euros

[levelo]

Damn !
Do you have more details ? Is it only for people who already had tickets ?

[TheWarden]

https://www.facebook.com/german.emba...location=group

The best info is on the German Consulates facebook website etc. It s a little unclear but believe that the priority is people at the Tanger Med site. I've also heard the UK consulate is contacting people directly about the ferry. Maybe another one next Thursday. TBH 2 ferries is not going to clear the people here and even less at 1200euro for one way

[levelo]

Thanks for the link.
People are desperate to get home. I don't think the price tag will even be an issue.

[Tim Cullis]

Tanger Med to Sète (France) ferry looks like it's a reality for at least some of the motorhomes and 4x4s currently stuck as Ksar-es-Seghir.

There will be two voyages, one tomorrow (Sunday) and another on Thursday. The ferry can take about 200 motorhomes. Tickets will be €1200 instead of the normal €500. The ships name is Napolis and is operated by Balearia.

Police will allow for people to leave and buy tickets which are available to any nationality in the carpark in Tangier Med. The tickets are available NOW to purchase before 1800 hours from the location below.

GPS: N35 51 29.7 W5 32 00.5

Google maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/RpScWDibU413wvS1A

I believe the sales point is Agencesevenseastravel whose telephone number is +212 663-000544

[Tim Cullis]

Early indications from negotiations between the French and UK governments are that those who choose to take the ferry to Sete will be allowed to travel across France to Calais, where a ferry will be available to take them across the Channel back to the UK.

Latest from the Embassy is that the the Honorary Consul is on his way to the port to help Brits at Tangier Med. There is limited availability on this boat and the advice for those that are not already at Tangier Med is to stay where you are and await further advice. The embassy does not know what are the plans for those that choose to stay in the carpark at Tanger Med but the Moroccans will not forcibly remove them until a better solution for them is found.

[TheWarden]

Good news for those up there, but a disgrace on the pricing and they will need 5 ferries to clear the Tanger Med bscklog

The UK Embassy could do with working on their communication with those currently in country, particularly after seeing how good the German and French ones are at keeping people informed