Hundreds of Cameroonians are still stranded outside the country since the closure of borders on 18 March due to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute speaks of 668 Cameroonian nationals still stranded in several foreign countries.

“Negotiations are ongoing (...) to plan special flights, with the support of foreign chancelleries and diplomatic representations of Cameroon, concerned, with a view to the repatriation in the coming days of this second contingent,” the head of government said.

These compatriots will be repatriated “at the expense of the State,” the communiqué signed by the Secretary-General of the Prime Minister's Office, Seraphin Magloire Fouda, states.

The first contingent of 675 Cameroonians has already been repatriated. The Head of Government has instructed the Minister of External Relations (Minrex), Lejeune Mbella Mbella, to speed up the procedures for the return of these Cameroonians in distress abroad.

For his part, the Minister of Public Health (Minsanté), Manaouda Malachie, has been instructed to finalize measures related to the organization of the quarantine of these people on their arrival and to pay special attention to the setting up of specialized centers for the treatment of Covid-19 patients.

As of April 23, Cameroon has officially recorded 1,334 Covid-19 infections, including 668 recovered and 43 deaths, according to figures released by the Committee in charge of monitoring the epidemic. On 16 April, the government renewed for 15 more days the 13 restriction measures enacted on 17 March, to which are added the 7 additional measures communicated on 9 April.

P.N.N.