Kathleen McCann wants to follow the advice of the Canadian government and return home to Victoria, but she and her husband are struggling to find a flight out of Morocco.
The couple have already spent about $15,000 on rebooked flights, only to have them cancelled.
鈥淓verything鈥檚 been cancelled,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he [flights] that are remaining are full. You can鈥檛 get on them.鈥�
Morocco has suspended all international flights, but it鈥檚 unclear when the restriction will be fully implemented. Spain has also closed its border with the country.
The McCanns have managed to book a flight leaving the country on Thursday, but McCann thinks the borders are likely to close before then.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday that Canadians who are travelling outside of the country should return 鈥渨hile it is still possible to do so.鈥�
鈥淟et me be clear: If you鈥檙e abroad, it鈥檚 time to come home.鈥�
He urged Canadians who are abroad to come home immediately and said the government will set up a fund to help them do so if they find the cost out of their reach.
Trudeau鈥檚 comments followed advice from Foreign Affairs Minister Fran莽ois-Philippe Champagne, who on Sunday reminded Canadians on Sunday to avoid non-essential travel outside the country until further notice.
鈥淢any countries have put in place travel or border restrictions and other measures. New restrictions may be imposed with little warning. Your travel plans may be disrupted. So far, flights to the U.S.A. are operating regularly,鈥� Champagne wrote in a social media post.
McCann says she and her husband, John 鈥� both of whom are in their late 60s 鈥� are just two of many travellers desperately trying to find a way home.
She hopes the government will send a plane to bring them back, but Global Affairs said that鈥檚 not in the cards right now.
鈥溛谘淮� has no current plans to repatriate Canadians from abroad,鈥� the department said in an emailed statement Sunday.
The department said it鈥檚 aware that the Moroccan government has suspended all international flights in and out of the country, but that it鈥檚 unclear when the restriction will be fully implemented.
鈥淟imited flights departing from Morocco are currently still available and may be offered on some airlines through Thursday 19 March,鈥� Global Affairs said.
