Americans stuck abroad during the coronavirus pandemic say the State Department has done nothing

Thousands of Americans are still stuck abroad in various countries around the world and are asking for help from officials to help them return home.

The request for aid comes as governments of various countries have restricted travel in an attempt to limit the spread of coronavirus as much as possible.

Phil and Jerri McMannis from Boston were on the last leg of a round-the-world trip and are currently stuck in Fez, Morocco after their flight for this Sunday was cancelled. So far, the couple have been unable to rebook. 

Morocco has suspended all international flights. It has 37 confirmed cases of the virus and one death.

Phil and Jerri McMannis from Boston were on the last leg of a round-the-world trip and are currently stuck in Fez, Morocco unable to get back to the United States

'The local people are offering to help and are talking to us, but our own government has said nothing,' said the McMannis'

‘The local people are offering to help and are talking to us, but our own government has said nothing,’ said the McMannis’

A group of American tourists have set up their own Facebook group after becoming stranded in Morocco

A group of American tourists have set up their own Facebook group after becoming stranded in Morocco 

‘It’s a scary situation, but we are doing the best we can to stay positive,’ McMannis, 36, told NBC News on Tuesday.

‘The local people are offering to help and are talking to us, but our own government has said nothing,’ said McMannis.    

The State Department has said that they have ‘successfully evacuated hundreds of U.S. citizens in the past few weeks, however, such flights do not reflect our standard practice and should not be relied upon as an option for U.S. citizens abroad who may be impacted by the ongoing spread of COVID-19. U.S. citizens should make plans using commercial travel options.’

The U.S. Embassy has since organized 30 flights from Agadir and Marrakech to London over the coming days.

The stranded group were given a small card with a few details on about how to contact the American embassy. It was shoved underneath the door of their hotel room

The stranded group were given a small card with a few details on about how to contact the American embassy. It was shoved underneath the door of their hotel room

Another American family also stuck in Morocco is Mary Marland of Boulder, Colorado along with her husband and two children.

They had rebooked to come home on Sunday but like the McMannis’ their flight was cancelled. 

‘Information is unreliable. Every cancellation happened without a rebooking option, and I’ve spent hours on the phone will the airlines,’ said Marland, 42.

The family say they have received no help from the U.S. government and are now resigned to staying at a hotel in Tangiers, but that might close very soon. 

‘I am terrified of the idea that this is going to go on beyond this week,’ she said.

Another American family also stuck in Morocco is Mary Marland of Boulder, Colorado along with her husband, Milton and two children Kate and Jack

Another American family also stuck in Morocco is Mary Marland of Boulder, Colorado along with her husband, Milton and two children Kate and Jack

The Marland family say they have received absolutely no help from the U.S. government and are now resigned to staying at a hotel in Tangiers, but that might close very soon

The Marland family say they have received absolutely no help from the U.S. government and are now resigned to staying at a hotel in Tangiers, but that might close very soon

One traveler who managed to make it back to the States is 20-year-old Etta Moen. 

She was studying in Spain, which has become the fourth-most infected country with 12,000 cases and more than 500 deaths. 

The country has been under partial lockdown since Saturday with residents only allowed to leave their homes to go to work, buy food or visit a pharmacy or hospital.

She managed to return home back to Washington State after her semester abroad program was been canceled. 

Her trip back was relatively simple and she flew from Alicante via Barcelona and London before finally flying back to Seattle.

‘It felt like taking a gamble booking a flight and not knowing if it would be canceled,’ said Moen. ‘I was checking the websites for all the airports and the airlines that I would be flying through every day.’

20-year-old Etta Moen was studying in Spain which has become the fourth-most infected country

20-year-old Etta Moen managed to book herself onto a flight to London and then to Seattle

20-year-old Etta Moen was studying in Spain, which has become the fourth-most infected country. She has managed to book herself onto a flight to London and then to Seattle

In neighboring France, 21-year-old Reid Richesin, from Birmingham, Alabama, is trying to get back to the U.S. from Paris after lockdown began at noon on Tuesday.

‘It feels like everything is up in the air and could be canceled — we will just have to see,’ he said from the airport. He is hoping to return to New York and will then head to Connecticut to stay with a friend.  

French President Emmanuel Macron has ordered France’s citizens to stay home, only leaving their home to buy groceries, travel to work if absolutely necessary, exercise or for doctor and hospital visits.  

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases worldwide has now risen to almost 188,000, and nearly 7,500 people have died. 

Reid Richesin, 21, is stuck in Paris

Richesin is trying to get back to the U.S. after France began a lockdown on Tuesday

21-year-old Reid Richesin, from Birmingham, Alabama, is trying to get back to the U.S. from Paris after a lockdown began at noon on Tuesday. He has been waiting at the airport

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases worldwide has now risen to almost 188,000, and nearly 7,500 people have died

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases worldwide has now risen to almost 188,000, and nearly 7,500 people have died

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